Colorado's Best Cannabis Strains of 2024

As Colorado crossed into a second decade of recreational sales in 2024, the cannabis space battled falling dispensary sales and diminishing national respect. But Colorado's best cultivators stack up against anyone, and hard times often breed powerful new strains and game-changing phenotypes.

As mid-tier growers (and Leafly) continue championing turnkey strains long past their ascension — hello, Super Boof — Colorado growers gravitated to more unusual genetics and time-tested strain qualities. Gas and funk returned strong this year as growers pushed back against candy-shop strains (though there were still plenty of them), and some of the more classic fruit terps, like cherry and grape, played starring roles in new and reborn varieties.

From Black Maple to Gastro Pop, here are my six favorite Colorado cannabis strains of 2024:

Black Maple by Anyone
Not only does the marketing work — I'm a sucker for anything maple — but the flavor and high back up the hype. A mix of Dulce de Uva and Sherbanger from hitmaker Bloom Seed Co., Black Maple tastes more like berries or grapes mixed with sandalwood, rubber and caramel than maple; I've also noticed hints of pine, peppers and onions and a creamy back end, depending on the version.

The genetics seem to attract Denver's top talent, from Mighty Melts and Snaxland to Green Dot and Soiku Bano, and the high is perfect for spring and summer. Every time I've puffed or dabbed Black Maple, the flexible high is creative, jovial and social. It's a great joint filler for dinner parties, art projects or a park hangout, and I'm perfectly fine with it before a light workout or reading session. Try the four producers above (and Sunshine, which is making 90u Black Maple rosin, too), and you'll see why I'm such a sap for it.

Cherry Killer by Bubba's Kush
Be on the lookout for Cherry Killer, a deadly and delicious strain from Bubba's Kush, which topped last year's list with another fruity heavyweight in Orange Cream Cake. But this phenotype of End Game (Ethos Cookies and Purple Sunset) might put you in the dirt even faster, and it'll be one tasty burial. Known for a candy-like appeal and a colorful, frosty look, Cherry Killer has a lot more depth than the first sniff suggests, with a punch of green apple and pine up front and hints of fruit on the back end. I get everything from grapes to amaretto cherries after breaking up Cherry Killer buds, and the flavor profile backs up all that tough talk.
Crusty Weasel by Allgreens
This list is usually reserved for flower, but leave it to Allgreens to weasel its way on here with rosin. I've called Crusty Weasel everything from a delicious bowl of rotten fruit to a gasoline-soaked trash can, and mean both in the absolute best way. This beautiful milky bowl of hash goop, a mix of I-95 and Chem-D, smells and tastes divine for anyone who loves cheese, gas or OGs, and it's a clear home run for those of us chasing the next great batch of dumpster funk. Now that Allgreens is open to recreational customers in Denver and selling rosin at a few other dispensaries in Colorado, you can taste the Weasel, too.

Gastro Pop by Single Source
I first tried Gastro Pop, a hybrid of Apples and Bananas and Grape Gasoline, in 2023, but I didn't try Single Source's until this year — and once you try it, there's no going back. Founders Tony Karas and Kennn Wall and their team have tapped into Gastro Pop's grape godliness like no other cultivation I've laid nostrils on, and it's not just a one-trick pony, either. Notes of apples and cherries and a slight rubber undertone accompany Gastro Pop's intense grape characteristics, making it a perfect punch to the tastebuds during the winter. Don't underestimate Gastro Pop's potential for adding pounds, either. This strain will make you one husky stoner if you can't keep a lid on the munchies.

Nightshifter by Meraki
Nightshifter, a cross of Trop Cherry and Frozay ’94 by Meraki, is among the darkest and dankest of purples, up there with dark-grape Gatorade and the grape flavoring used in a Sonic slushie. Heavy on anthocyanins (compounds responsible for purple colors in weed) and just the right amount of dense, Nightshifter's buds back up their good looks with extremely sedative effects. Even the pretty ones can pack a punch.

Paloma (formerly G) by Green Dot Labs
I was a fan of G, a grapefruit-heavy strain from Green Dot Labs inspired by Ohio G 13, just the way it was. But even weed snobs judge books by their covers, and apparently G needed a revamp. Enter: Paloma. Same strain, new look (on the packaging, anyway). Whatever the name or label is, I'll be a fan of this grapefruit ganja for life.

My first experience with G was a Green Dot hash-hole collaboration with Red Roots Rolling Co. The rosin-infused joint left me so high that I almost forgot what it tasted like, but subsequent experiences with G, and now Paloma, leave me more impressed each time. The blast of grapefruit rinds is followed by a mix of black pepper and smoky sweetness, creating a fizzy sensation in my nose. Like Green Dot's other big winners, the high is an 11/10, and you feel that potency out of the gate. Paloma's effects are best suited to daytime, but this strain makes you feel so good and giggly that overindulging isn't just understandable, it's probable — but unlike with its namesake, there's no headache waiting for you tomorrow.