Cannabis & More

Coloradans love their rosin, but extraction shelves and hash fridges are starting to look like the Buzz Lightyear aisle at Al's Toy Barn. Never content with being just one more face in the crowd, Soiku Bano takes an innovative, quality-first approach to dabbing, which keeps the Denver hash factory above the rest. Founded by brothers Xander Tabio and Jose Coto with Coto's wife, Claudia, and led by head extractor Tim Du, Soiku Bano blew us away with a Sour Diesel cold-cure rosin in 2023, and kept the momentum with its Soiku Sundaes. A two-gram ball of cold-cured rosin, covered with 1.5 grams of a rosin sauce drizzled on top, each terpy Soiku Sundae mimics the dessert in more ways than one. Whatever the Bano boys are pulling from, you know the result is worth waiting for payday.

Rosin edibles have quickly become a dime a dozen, but Candaze Dipz stand out for their consistent flavor, hard-hitting potency and a delicious frosting-like coating. Green apple gummies are covered in caramel, cherry and orange gummies in dark chocolate, and strawberry gummies have a layer of peanut butter frosting. Every version we've had is amusing and delicious, with the chocolate-covered orange variety a must-have for anyone who loves a Terry's Chocolate Orange. But the strawberry PB&J take might be the most unique weed gummy in dispensaries right now; it tastes like peanut butter fudge layered with red doughnut jelly.

In Greece, the word "meraki" means "to put your soul into something," and we can trust this Boulder-area grow to do just that. Founded by longtime Colorado cannabis guys Phil Halpern and Matt DenBleyker, Meraki got off to a hot start with its well-received revival of Sour Diesel and collaborations with popular rosin extractor Soiku Bano in 2023. Meraki's lineup, which includes other stanky, sticky hits like Donny Burger and Party Animal, is slowly expanding as Halpern works with more mother plants, including Lemonhead Delight and several other strains from Colorado breeder FreeWorld Genetics, and the brand is rolling out a Meraki extraction line, too. You can smell and taste the love in every nug, and Meraki is sold for significantly less than some other top brands.

Cannabis-infused baths have never been better, thanks to extraction technology and the #treatyoself movement. IoVia takes that to the next level by combining 100 milligrams each of CBD and THC with minerals and aloe vera, lavender and tree tea in its restorative bath salts. Founded by former medical marijuana provider and dispensary owner Don Novak, IoVia is more about the wellness side of cannabis than getting stoned, and that cannabinoid and mineral-rich lather is great for the skin and helpful with inflammation. Still, users of THC bath products, especially women, have reported edibles-like highs after a warm soak, so be prepared to relax extra hard if you go over the recommended serving size (we won't tell).

A line of Skittles-inspired candies from Colorado edibles maker Joyibles, Joy Bombs surprised us last year with its sour and tropical THC bites. But now that CBN is in the mix, that sugar rush just got a lot smoother. Each pack of Joy Bombs Dream Blends is packed with 100 milligrams of THC and 100 milligrams of CBN, with every little nibble dosed with 2.5 milligrams of both. At forty pieces per bag, these delicious rainbow bites can be microdosed or eaten by the mouthful for an early slumber, as CBN is a common cannabinoid for sleepytime edibles.

After operating at 6853 Leetsdale Drive for almost ten years, the Center moved into a different neighborhood in 2023 — but its new digs aren't your typical storefront. The old brick building on South Broadway has been there since the late 1800s, serving as a firehouse until the 1970s. The Center's ownership put over $3 million into purchasing and renovating the building, which now hosts one of the area's best-stocked dispensaries. On top of getting high on history at the Center, you'll have your pick of Denver's most popular growers and extractors, including 710 Labs, Green Dot Labs, Iion, Lazercat, Locol Love, Mighty Melts, Single Source, Soiku Bano and more. And if you're trying to save a few bucks, the Center's internal growers aren't slouches, either.

Released in late 2023 with a $200 price tag, the Sesh was a hot toy on the block for cannabis users last holiday season. Made by longtime Colorado vape brand O.pen, this unique machine relies on traditional 5/10 cartridges — the most common cart for hash pen batteries — to fill up a glass with THC vapor, which users then inhale all in one hit. Simply screw in the cartridge at the base, turn on the machine and let the glass fill, then inhale or pass it around. The Sesh comes with a chamber for traditional concentrates such as wax and rosin, as well. Besides giving new life to those half-empty vape cartridges in your desk and couch cushions, the Sesh provides a unique way to enjoy hash cartridges with friends, which never felt quite the same as sharing a joint — until now.

Cannabis collaborations are rare, thanks to restrictive industry rules and a competitive atmosphere, but Malek's Melts and Lazercat sifted through all that bullshit in the name of flavorful dabs. The two solventless extractors put their rosin together for Geode grams that combine both cold cure rosin and rosin jam — two different consistencies of solventless hash — in a limited run in February. The combination of different consistencies looks like a mini tart, mashed potatoes and gravy or, according to Malek's founder Malek Noueiry, the inside of a hollow rock. Combining the different forms of rosin in a dab makes for a full hit with several layers of flavor, and by using different strains for each extraction, the rosin combo hits even more tastebuds. Noueiry said he and Lazercat would likely work together again if the first drop was successful. Based on how quickly it sold out, we expect (and plead) to see more.

Everything Sweet Mary Jane makes is delicious, from the Boulder kitchen's lightly infused popcorn (a breakroom favorite) to brookies. But anyone who's dipped fries into a chocolate Wendy's Frosty knows how good a sweet and salty combination can be. Founder Karin Lazarus, once dubbed the "Martha Stewart of weed baking" by New York magazine, put that combo in a bar, then added a little THC to the mix — and the results are glorious. Each Milkshake & French Fries Bar, a mix of malted milk chocolate and shoestring potato chips, tastes like a cool, crispy dip right after the drive-thru. If that's not worth savoring, then what is?

Green Dot Labs is one of Colorado's best flower and extraction brands, which is made clear after you take a dry puff of the Boulder operation's Live Resin Rolls. Each pack of five half-gram joints is made with flower and resin combinations geared toward specific flavor profiles, so if your mouth didn't water from the gassy, tangerine notes of Reba Jam or the tongue-pinching sweetness of Peach Oblivion the first time, it definitely will with these. The small dog-walking size of the Live Resin Rolls perfectly encapsulates the flavor and potency Green Dot pumps out, but they can still be overpowering for new users. For those of us who can handle it, though, these strain-specific combinations of flower and resin are a welcome slap to the face — like a shot of concentrated juice in the morning — that keeps you high until happy hour.

Green Dot Labs is one of Colorado's best flower and extraction brands, which is made clear after you take a dry puff of the Boulder operation's Live Resin Rolls. Each pack of five half-gram joints is made with flower and resin combinations geared toward specific flavor profiles, so if your mouth didn't water from the gassy, tangerine notes of Reba Jam or the tongue-pinching sweetness of Peach Oblivion the first time, it definitely will with these. The small dog-walking size of the Live Resin Rolls perfectly encapsulates the flavor and potency Green Dot pumps out, but they can still be overpowering for new users. For those of us who can handle it, though, these strain-specific combinations of flower and resin are a welcome slap to the face — like a shot of concentrated juice in the morning — that keeps you high until happy hour.

Green Sativa, a Denver-area dispensary chain and growing operation, began selling Valentine's Day cards with one-gram joints dubbed Love Notes in 2023. After they sold out in a matter of days, the staff quickly decided to bring them back this year. "This is a fun way for people to appreciate others, and gummies and other things are usually a little higher priced," Green Sativa operational manager Frances Comeau said in February. The $7 canna-grams were made in-house and came with Valentine's Day graphics and sayings like "Cannabe Your Valentine?" and "For My Best Bud," while each joint was filled with herb grown by Green Sativa's cultivation staff. Made for lovers, friends "and even your mother," according to Comeau, High Notes are the ultimate impulse buy, and a fun way to surprise someone important on V-Day.

Colorado Cannabis Tours has been providing pot-friendly tours around Denver and other parts of Colorado for a decade, with plenty of bumpy roads thanks to overzealous city enforcement. The company is now licensed, however, allowing you to book a cannabis-friendly seat for trips to the mountains, visits to popular art spots around the city, or a tour of a Denver dispensary and growing operations. Once the party bus leaves the Colorado Cannabis Tours headquarters, you can light up and get ready for a visit to gardens run by brands such as Del Mundo Cannabis, where you'll learn about the ins and outs of growing and selling weed. Trips are offered daily and start at $69, with seasonal options like haunted ghost tours and holiday lights excursions.

As if social media's prohibitive policies weren't tough enough, cannabis companies are going through a boring period online right now — mostly educational posts focusing on things we already know about, along with product shilling and weed porn. But where's the fun? Where's the sarcasm? Where's the transparency? It's all on the Joints Instagram page, where you'll find funny digs at cannabis industry norms and stock market bros, peeks inside of a Denver cannabis factory and influencer spoofs. "We're a group of young stoners, and we intend to have fun and communicate that to the market in a way that feels authentic, welcomed and common sense," says founder Hunter Garth. "We're really just talking about weed for what it is and making fun of weed for what it is. We don't take ourselves seriously." In a world full of sales pitches, we could use more of that.

Denver might be Colorado's cannabis capital, but just about every ambitious Colorado grower and hash maker is trying to get inside a dispensary on the outskirts of Boulder. Established brands like 710 Labs, DabLogic, Green Dot Labs and Lazercat account for much of the real estate at Eclipse Cannabis Co., but good weed sells itself, biscuit, and pushing the popular stuff don't mean shit. What this space-themed dispensary does better than others is spot new talent. Premier brands like Bubba's Kush, Red Roots Rolling Co. and Sunshine Extracts all got off the ground with the help of Eclipse. We can't wait to see what's on the horizon for 2024.

Temperatures have never been hotter, but at least we have one more dispensary product to keep us cool. Kahuna's ten-milligram ice pops are infused with various cannabinoid combinations, with the straight THC version the easiest to find. However, the CBN and THC variety might be more effective at summer siestas or relaxing in the pool. The mini pot-sicles come in adult-themed flavors such as Cabana Frosé, mango passion fruit and Cabana Margarita, and are usually sold at room temperature, like Otter Pops. But fear not: The pot pops are frozen and ready to eat within a couple of hours — and they can always be blended into a mocktail if you're impatient.

Finding pot from a respectable grower has become surprisingly hard if you're not ready to spend top dollar, but it's no joke to the Laughing Grass crew. Proud to serve quality cannabis without expensive marketing flair, the west Denver store believes its $30 eighths and $100 ounces stack up with other hitmakers charging twice that. After trying Laughing Grass’s in-house cuts of Banana strains and old-school favorites like AK-47, Sour Diesel and the CBD-heavy Harlequin, you’ll probably agree. On top of daily deals, Laughing Grass has been putting on promotions in 2024 that give customers free grams of hash with $40 purchases and BOGO flower on Fridays and Saturdays. Whether you’re trying to buy bulk amounts of rosin or stock up on flower, it’s hard to find greener pastures than this.

Open in the Denver area for nearly thirty years, Headed West had to move three times before settling at its Englewood location in 2006. Owner "Big" Mike Mahaney has made the head shop a mainstay on South Broadway ever since, selling functional glassware of all shapes, sizes and prices long before recreational cannabis was legalized. Headed West stocks glass from artists like David Armour and UncleFish, big brands like MJ Arsenal and an extensive selection of vaporizers, blunts, dab rigs and everything else a smoker, joker or midnight toker would need. On top of a strong inventory, Headed West has become a staple for cannabis users with month-long deals, special raffles and friendly house service. When the bong breaks or you're looking to improve the collection, you know where to head.

Growers Tony Karas, Logan Nuss and hash whiz Kennn Wall have turned Single Source into a Colorado cannabis blue-chipper, pumping out some of the state's best flower and rosin. Single Source's Sour Diesel and GMO are always in pole position, but what we respect most about Single Source is its drive to grow what most others don't. Good luck finding Loompa's Headband or Strawberry 2.1, two turbo-charged Single Source strains, from anyone else in Colorado (and if you do, know it won't be as good), and you can count on the Denver operation to do pillar strains like Papaya Cake or Poontang Pie not just correctly, but exceptionally. Grab a gram of Wall's top-notch rosin, largely made from the same Single Source strains sold on the flower shelf, for a true cannabis combo.

The chimera was said to have terrorized the ancient Greeks by flying down from the sky and scorching the land by breathing fire. That myth likely originated from a volcano in what is modern Turkey, but anyone who smokes Iion's Chimera today will be living that legend, because this shit is fire. Not just hot or worthy of praise. Fire. Vivid colors on Chimera's buds look like a blue and purple flame. The strain smells like a unique mixture of griddled dough, skunky tobacco and berry jam. And the high is upbeat, focused and creative. Reorganize the house, write a letter or get a little artsy; whatever activity you choose, Chimera livens it up. Add in a manageable comedown and munchies, and this is our favorite anytime toke of the year.

Colorado Harvest Company has been around since the medical marijuana days, and that experience shows through the menu. Rare and popular flower brands from across the state are available at all three Colorado Harvest stores, from 710 Labs to Indico, with other talent in the grower lineup like Green Dot Labs, Malek's Premium Cannabis, Melody Genetics, Single Source, Snaxland and Colorado Harvest's own garden. The hash list, headlined by 710, Green Dot, Mighty Melts and Single Source, among others, is just loaded. Fans of hydrocarbon extractions also have plenty to shop through, and seasoned edibles eaters will appreciate a long list of rosin-infused treats. And as one of the few stores to offer delivery in Denver and Aurora, you don't have to make the drive if you live in either city.

When it's time to celebrate a wedding, newborn or big promotion, don't settle for a penny pre-roll or homemade joint. A true celebration requires quality, presentation and elements we can't make on our own. And few people can make a hash hole like Kayne Perry. The founder of Red Roots Rolling Co., raised around the Kentucky tobacco fields, can only make around 75 of the 2.6-gram doughnut doinks a day, with two grams of selected flower and a 0.6-gram rosin snake placed in the middle. Meant to be shared with others or smoked over multiple sessions, Red Roots hash holes are like a fine cigar and should be treated as such, with humidity-controlled storage and a torch lighter. As more grower and extractor collaborations come to fruition for Red Roots, we can't wait to celebrate in 2024.

Named after the beloved and incredibly ridiculous pot propaganda film from 1936, Reefer Madness stores have plenty of good flower — but it's safe to say these dispensaries are hash-crazy, too. Over the last couple of years, store manager Ryan Ashby has curated quite a selection of extractors on the shelf, from 710 Labs to Single Source and plenty in between. Reefer Madness receives limited drops and brand-new creations from Lazercat and Malek's Melts, with other popular rosin brands such as Big Heads Little Necks, Green Dot Labs, Mighty Melts, Mountain Select, Olio, Sunshine Extracts and Trichome Collective also on the menu. Wax, shatter, live resin, Rick Simpson Oil and vape cartridges are in heavy supply at Reefer Madness as well, so any dabber will find something they like. And with a new store opening on South Broadway last summer, you can now step into the madness on both ends of town.

Hash-covered buds, also known as caviar or moon rocks, aren't anything new to dispensaries — but good ones are. Similar to pre-rolls, caviar's starting materials are rarely tip-top, but all of those worries go out the window with Locol Love. The Boulder-based cultivation is one of Colorado's top wholesale growers, with impressive cuts of Colorado Cream Soda, Minties, Monkey Berries and much more. Now you can get those same beautiful nugs with a frosty coat of solventless sift, collected in-house, for a few bucks extra. The high feels clean and supercharged, even for strong tolerances, and the kief sticks to the buds well enough for a slow burn. If you're looking to impress a cannabis connoisseur without breaking the bank or just want something stiff in case of emergency, this is a great choice.

Most people don't take Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) for a good time on a Friday night, but the medically focused extract is getting more use in the recreational market. Intended for medical patients and direct oral consumption, RSO is concentrated THC accompanied by a full spectrum of cannabinoids and plant compounds, so you want to be sure that the starting material is good — and few cannabis cultivations have starting material like 710 Labs. You can get syringes of RSO from one of Colorado's top flower and rosin brands for less than $25 at dispensaries, enabling easy infusion or oral consumption. Medical patients take high amounts of it for various ailments, but recreational users use it in smaller amounts for the concentrate's full spectrum of plant derivatives, which can bring a calmer high than THC distillate.

Most hash pen and vape cartridge options are made with poor starting material and taste like flavored nicotine. Not DabLogic's. Made with a cartridge designed and patented by founder and Colorado hash legend Julian Casellas, DabLogic's rosin cartridges hit smoothly and manage to make us feel like we just took a dab or hit off a doughnut joint. That might sound easy, but the vast majority of vape carts, rosin included, fail to impress our tastebuds or high meter. In contrast, DabLogic brings the flavor and haymaker hit until the last drop is gone, and you can always count on rare genetics, from Chemmy Jones to Rainbow Disco.

Dispensary-grown flower doesn't dominate the shelf anymore, with the majority of house buds relegated to the middle shelf or discount bin. Verde Natural proves time and again that we can still find that internal dank without breaking the bank, however. Never scared to try something different or keep tradition alive instead of chasing trends, Verde sports rare finds like Creme OG, Hazel's Comet and Sour 2018, as well as incredibly grown versions of timeless pillars like GMO, Papaya and Wifi OG. You can find Verde's buds at dispensaries around Denver, but the best prices and selection are at the flagship store on East Colfax Avenue or the Hash House in Boulder, which is branded under Verde's solventless-extraction partner, DabLogic.

Dispensaries are slowly moving toward the universal selection of liquor stores, but their stock can still vary wildly, and prices even more so. Toss all of those worries in a sack the moment you enter Lakeshore Cannabis, though, because this Sloan's Lake pot shop has it all for those of us who love sniffing flowers. Growing operations like 14er, 710 Labs, Green Dot Labs, Meraki, Rare Dankness, Single Source and Verde Natural are all regular features on the menu, with plenty of more budget-conscious options, as well. Several top-shelf growers will likely be on sale when you visit, too, making Lakeshore's dank bouquets smell even better.

Learning about the vast world of natural psychedelics takes time and motivation, but the right environment is just as important. For those of us who aren't huge on reading dense books with heavy text, Doses & Mimosas is here to teach over drinks and good times. The monthly event at Plant Magic Cafe provides attendees with natural (and magical) drinks made with blue lotus and amanita muscaria, two stimulating natural libations likely to make you smile. A small bar with mimosas and other drinks is included, with Plant Magic employees on hand to talk about psychedelics and Colorado's new decriminalization laws. Whether you're looking to learn, find a community or just want to have fun during brunch hours, Doses & Mimosas will provide. Buy a ticket and see for yourself.

Curious about the effects of psychedelics, but too nervous to take the full trip? Then the sober psychedelic experience at Denver Zen Den is for you. Founded by Michael Pottern, the Zen Den opened last December to share the healing effects of psychedelics...without the psychedelics. The sober experience involves lying on a BLISSpod, which vibrates to soothing music played through noise-canceling headphones, while a Lucia N°03 light (a hypnagogic lamp) flashes over your head, triggering the brain to form kaleidoscopic patterns similar to those seen during a DMT blast-off. The combination of light, vibratory and auditory therapy relaxes both mind and body, and the effervescent effects last for days afterward. It's the perfect alternative to psychedelics — and, unlike some people with DMT, you won't be insisting you're an interdimensional shaman afterward.