The Future of Public Pot Use and Private Marijuana Clubs in Denver

“Where can I smoke weed in Denver?” It's usually one of the first questions asked by tourists, second only to “where can I buy weed in Denver?” While marijuana dispensaries in Denver are plentiful, and Green Star Excursions will even pick you up at the airport and take you right to a dispensary, places to smoke marijuana without fear of getting a ticket aren't quite so out in the open. Marijuana activists have been working for years now to reform current public pot use laws and private marijuana club regulations so that people will have more places to be able to safely blaze up. Many of these efforts have remained fruitless, but with momentum building and support mounting, voters and activists might have another shot this November.

Although one citywide initiative that would have made private marijuana clubs fully legal in Denver failed to make the November 8^th ballot, there is still a chance for a similar but different measure to be brought to a vote. The failed initiative, called the Responsible Use Denver Initiative, fell nearly 2000 signatures short of the 4,726 verifiable signatures required to make the ballot, despite the group behind the measure, Denver NORML, having turned in over 7,500 signatures. When the signatures were reviewed, many turned out to be from unregistered voters or from voters living in other counties. While disappointing to the many marijuana activists who worked countless hours on the effort, the news is not completely disheartening, as another initiative regarding pot consumption in businesses still has a chance. Deemed the Neighborhood Supported Cannabis Consumption Pilot Program, this initiative would allow marijuana to be smoked at certain establishments like cafes and bars. Such businesses would be required to seek and obtain approval from the neighborhood where the establishment is located before they can allow marijuana consumption on their premises. The Neighborhood Supported Cannabis Consumption initiative is currently under review by the Denver Elections Division. If there are enough verifiable signatures on the petition to get the measure placed on the ballot, Denver voters could be deciding within just a few months whether or not to legalize toking up at bars and other neighborhood-approved establishments. The Denver Elections Division is expected to complete their signature verification process by sometime next week.

Many are hopeful that this measure will indeed make the ballot, as the rules against public pot smoking cause a lot of confusion and inconvenience, especially for marijuana tourists. You can walk into any number of marijuana dispensaries in Denver such as Medicine Man Denver and easily buy weed, but then you're left with no place to legally smoke it. While Amendment 64 legalized the sell and possession of pot, consuming marijuana openly and publicly remains illegal under Colorado state law. Most hotels don't allow indoor smoking, which leaves the marijuana tourist with no obvious options when it comes to knowing where to smoke weed in Denver. Being able to just go to a bar or cafe or other business and sit back and light up would provide for an easy and convenient way for marijuana tourists and residents alike to enjoy Colorado cannabis culture to the fullest. It could also be a boon for the businesses that choose to allow marijuana consumption, attracting new customers and especially marijuana tourists to their establishments. The petition to get the Neighborhood Supported Cannabis Consumption Pilot Program on the Denver November election ballot has 10,800 signatures, so there is a strong chance that the Denver Elections Division will be able to verify enough of those signatures for the measure to come to a vote. The ballot measure has the backing of the Marijuana Policy Project, Veterans for Cannabis, Cannabis Business Alliance, Sensible Colorado, The Church, Club Vinyl, My 420 Tours, Colorado Cannabis Tours, and many other influential organizations and businesses. If the Neighborhood Supported Cannabis Consumption Pilot Program makes it on the ballot, hopes are high that the measure will pass.

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The Effects of Different Marijuana Strains | Enhance - Debilitate - Normalize,

When I first started budtending, I was very much of the "if it messes you up it's what you want" persuasion. I still very much dwell in that area but as I have had the opportunity to try a ludicrous amount of different strains and crosses, I can much more accurately get to the effect I'm looking for in most cases. Some strains I know for sure will effect me in a specific way, whereas some strains still baffle me and I need to do more pretend research on, all strains just making me wish I could test individual cannabinoids by themselves, But after all of this, I needed a way to explain the generalized effect of strains beyond the Indica Sativa Hybrid model, as there are plenty of cases where just those labels alone were either not accurate enough or in some cases even opposite. We recently got a Sativa strain that is under no circumstances effectually useful as a Sativa, and I would never sell it as such. A lot of categorization happens based on the physical makeup of the plants that are grown, as you can't necessarily know what a plant is really going to result in outside of how it has ended up in previous batches.
 

Indica vs. Sativa

The use of Indica Sativa and Hybrid in a consumer context is also essentially a curse. I cannot even begin to count the number of people that have come in not even ever having smoked weed adamantly telling me that they don't want Indicas, they hate them and they only want Sativas because someone told them all Indica strains would put them to sleep. This is understandable as these past two years have really opened up a lot as far as open experimentation and research, which can only continue to climb. But even so, the average customer is probably still going to tell you that they don't want Indicas, or that Sativas make them too paranoid or sometimes even that Sativas put them to sleep and they can ONLY smoke hybrids, which is generally all nonsense.

Even just going by my dispensary alone, we have always had Indica strains that are very energetic in addition to the more downer strains, and plenty of Sativas that I would never recommend for people to go out and do stuff on, more prone to relaxation and calmness. I have had a hard time really trying to narrow down how to describe the effects of different strains in a way that I can keep them all straight in my head and avoid being constantly thrown off by new weird crosses. So after much deliberation, I came up with the following three categories: enhance, debilitate, and normalize.
 

Three Ways to Categorize The Effects of Smoking Marijuana

Enhance strains are generally more applicable to Sativas and Sativa leaning hybrids, but are not limited to that by any means. Any strain that modifies your mental or physical feelings in a way that pushes you forward or helps you focus or even body high that reduces muscle pain could fall under this category, Enhance strains can come in many different ranges of strength as well, some lower THC strains being very beneficial for cerebral effect. These strains are generally more recommended for going out and doing things, mental expansion and creativity channeling, among other positive effects. The body high side of enhance strains I have also found to be a little more like lifting body high, losing a few pounds of weight in your extremities, good for all kinds of outdoor kinds of adventures. Enhance strains can also carry with them a heavy drop effect once they have worn off, as enhancement can't be permanent and you must eventually go back to normal you.

Debilitate strains come in two main types for me, strains that are very heavy on the body high and knockdown potential, and strains that make you stupid. I am a huge fan of strains that make you stupid, me stupid, what have you. I avoid a lot of enhance strains as I feel like there is rarely as much change in my headspace, sometimes getting a little more tangential than usual but that is rarely something I'm looking for, as anything more going on in my head just pushes me more towards just getting too distracted to function, whereas strains that knock me down mentally make me more able to enjoy the present rather than spiraling through my thoughts. Intense heavy body high as opposed to the enhance strains lifting body is also a preference for me, again because I want to be knocked down. While these strains can be often attributed to Indicas, the dumbing strains I have found are generally closer to hybrids, usually resulting from an interesting strain cross.

Normalize strains are interesting because they vary from person to person, as you may find that an Enhance or a Debilitate strain may actually knock you down or pick you up to normal. Most CBD strains that I have tried fall into this category, as they are generally just relaxing and relief heavy, without actually being too down. Some people associate CBDs with going to sleep or tiredness, but I don't really agree in any context. Normalize strains are more along the lines of getting you to a nice average space that you want to inhabit, rather than pushing you too much in any direction, similar to how people will take antidepressants or Adderall, things like that.

But these three categories are fairly fluid, really only getting assigned to strains that I think fully embody these ideas. Still if you go into a store and ask for something that fits one of these contexts, I guarantee you will have a much more productive conversation with your budtender. They may even be able to find you something much closer to what you need rather than just assigning you the Indica or Sativa of the day because you told them you couldn't smoke one or the other. I recommend you always take your drug research seriously, and try to move away from the traditional genetic classifications of weed. The sooner we start to move away from these ideas the sooner we can really advance into growing strains that do the same thing every time.

Save your stickers, keep a journal, whatever works for you, I encourage you to do it. Learning is the best aspect of this industry right now, as much as everyone else would have you believe it is money.

Money is not what we're working for.

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Basic Rules of Using Weed Coupons

Now that your weed coupons are printed and organized it’s time to use them, but if you have never used coupons before then this can be a little bit frightening.  Let’s face it, nothing looks less cool than walking up to that cute budtender and stumbling around with a coupon.  Situations like this have been the cause of more abandoned coupon purchases than anything else.  Embarrassment, or the fear of it, is a major reason why many people fail to get the best deals on weed.  Well, all that stops now – These are the basic rules of using weed coupons.  Read these rules and remember them and you too can enjoy the great savings that weed coupons have to offer.

Now all you non-conformist, anti-authoritarian pot smokers out there, remember that it’s a sad fact of life that rules do exist and that we have to follow them once in a while, so don’t freak out.  Just like everything else, coupons have rules that must be followed in order to get the best weed deals and save money to buy more weed.  The rules of using weed coupons are easy enough to follow – about as easy as making a box of macaroni and cheese, and like the mac-n-cheese, well worth the effort.  Using coupons is always one of the easiest ways to get the best deals on weed in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, or anywhere.  Let’s get on to those annoying rules.

One per Purchase

If there were one weed couponing rule that was set in stone, it would probably be the one per purchase rule.  When using weed coupons, or any kind of coupon for that matter, it will always state one per purchase somewhere in the fine print.  In all my years of clipping coupons of every kind, not just weed coupons, I have never seen one that didn’t say that.  This rule means that you can’t use 2 or 3 or twenty coupons for say, one bag of marijuana edibles.  This would bring the price paid to less than what the dispensary paid for it, and make the sale not worth the effort for the shop.  Something to know about the one per purchase rule is that this is does generally mean that you can use one weed coupon for each item, or group of items, purchased up to store limits.  So if you were to have two coupons for a half price gram of shatter, you couldn’t add them up and get a gram for free, but you could buy two grams of shatter, each for half price. 

Only What’s Specified

Another thing that all coupons have in common – even weed coupons, is that they always specifically state what they can be used for, when they can be used, and sometimes even where they can be used, like the individual dispensary coupons found on Cannasaver.com.  When something is specified on the coupon, then 99.999% of the time, that is the only way that the coupon can be used.  That tiny fraction of a percentage point when this rule does not apply only happens when a store holds a promotion that specifically breaks this rule on purpose.  In most situations this unique discount will take the form of one dispensary offering to take another dispensary’s weed coupons or even accepting expired coupons for a very limited time.  If and when this type of sale pops up, be sure to take full advantage of it, they are as uncommon as seedless Mexican brick weed.

Anything that is specified in words on a coupon is non-negotiable.  Dispensaries will not be willing to make changes or substitutions even if they run out of an item.  If the pot shop does run out of an item you have a cannabis coupon for, try asking for a rain check so that you can take advantage of that cheap shatter deal when its back in stock. 

Be Honest

Coupons really don’t seem like a whole lot of anything to most of us, nothing more than a marketing tool that is generous enough to save money and help us to get the cheapest dispensary deals.  But coupons, even weed coupons, are actually legal tender.  Look closely at a big name manufacturer coupon for something like cereal.  Somewhere in that fine print it will say “cash value 1/100 ¢.”  This tiny phrase technically should mean that you could take 100 coupons to a store and cash them in for a penny – although, I don’t really know if any would do that.  More importantly, in common use, this phrase means that if you alter or change a coupon it is just as illegal as counterfeiting money.  So don’t do it no matter how tempting it may be.  Even if your weed coupons don’t have any of this printed on them, don’t take chances.  No one wants to go to prison for coupon fraud, not to mention, it hurts in so many ways.  Cashiers and budtenders will be reprimanded or maybe even fired for accepting altered coupons. And if too many fraudulent coupons are discovered, the dispensary may stop giving out their awesome weed coupons. 

Following these basic rules of using weed coupons will make your couponing experience easier and happier and much more profitable.  Remember these rules and save more money with less hassle while using coupons from Cannasaver.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Organizing Your Marijuana Coupons

If there’s one thing that every nutty coupon mom knows, is that even a coupon for $1,000,000.00 free cash is totally worthless if you can’t find it and use it before it expires.  Now if you’re a casual couponer and only keep one or two coupons around, ready to use in the next few days, then your wallet or refrigerator door may work. But those of us who really like to get the best deals on weed, and those of us with short term memory problems, will need to get organized to see the greatest savings and here’s what you’ll need to do it.

A Container

What type and size of container depends on your lifestyle, personal preferences, and weed couponing habits.  There are many suitable containers in most homes, so you may not even need to buy anything new.  Index card boxes work nicely, like the ones sometimes used to keep recipe cards in.  There are also specialized binders and pouches that come straight from the store ready to fill with your favorite weed coupons.  But my personal favorite deal catching device is a regular old envelope.  Of course, a new one will work fine, but being frugal, I usually will just repurpose one that comes in with a bill.  The best envelopes are usually the long, business size ones because they hold even long weed coupons without folding.  Folding coupons is a real time waster and makes it hard to see expiration dates and other important details printed on the face of the coupon.

A Good System

Next, it is time to decide how to organize the coupons so that they are easy to find and use.  This is another preference call, but the idea is to set the system up so that you can use the coupon you want when you want to use it.  What good are flower coupons when you want to get a great deal on shatter?  And even a great wax deal is no good if the dispensary with the best wax coupon is on the other side of town and you’re stuck without a ride. 

Organize the weed coupons the way you use them.  If you buy many different marijuana products from many different dispensaries, then maybe the best system for you will include sections for each different type of marijuana product.  For example, separate sections for wax, shatter, edibles and bud – each with coupons from different dispensaries in Denver.  But if you only buy bud from one or two different dispensaries, maybe a system dividing the coupons by weight would serve you better.  This system would have a section for deals on eighths, one for ¼’s, and one for great ounce deals too. 

Remember, the best weed coupon filing systems are ones that you can understand and remember so that you can always use them to get the best weed deals around.  I also like to include a section at the front where I can put the coupons I am using on this shopping trip so that I don’t have to hold a stack of coupons while I shop, or hold up the line at the cash register while I dig for them in the different sections of my envelope.

Upkeep

It’s true, saving money on weed like anything, takes time.  Luckily, the only time it really takes to keep up with your marijuana coupon filing system now that you have it all setup, is spent checking up on expiration dates.  Some coupons have no expiration date and will essentially last forever, but many coupons do expire and once they do, they cannot be used no matter how much you whine, gripe, flirt, or complain to the budtender.  In order to avoid personal disappointment and potential problems at the cash register, it’s always a good idea to keep your weed coupon filing system free of expired coupons. 

Make a habit of sitting down for a few moments every couple of weeks, or at least once a month, and review the expiration dates.  Throw away any coupons that have expired.  Any that are nearing their expiration date can be moved to the front of the section, or even a specially designated section, to make sure that they aren’t forgotten and get used before the great deal on weed goes up in smoke.  Take it from an experienced couponer, there isn’t a whole lot that feels worse than having a great coupon for something you really want to buy and then finding out at the cash register that the coupon is expired and the great concentrate deal you thought you had is suddenly shattered.

Following these easy steps to setting up your own weed coupon organization system may seem like unnecessary work when you’re just trying to get high, but why not take a few moments and get setup to save tons of money on the weed you buy?  Saving money on marijuana is good for the budget, good for the stashbox, and can be a little fun too when you think about how much money you’re saving, and how much more pot you can buy thanks to marijuana coupons from Cannasaver.com. 

 

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Extreme Weed Couponing is Here! Do You Fit The Type?

The invention of weed coupons has got a whole new group of people thinking about couponing – people who never would have considered couponing before now.  Getting started using coupons can be a bit intimidating at first, and those coupon lady blogs don’t really seem to help much when weed coupons are the topic you’re looking for help with.  Never fear, the Savvy Stoner is here with everything you need to know about getting started using weed coupons to save money and get the best dispensary deals around.  Before you get started, you will need to decide how much time and effort you want to invest in getting great deals on marijuana products.

Commit, or Don’t

The first step in getting the best marijuana deals in Denver, or anywhere, is to decide how much time and effort you are willing to commit to couponing.  In the couponing world there are basically 4 levels and weed coupons are no different.  Take a look at the different levels of commitment and savings, and decide which level of savings and commitment are best for you.

The casual couponer is the sort of saver who will pick up a coupon next to the register and use it on the edibles they were already going to buy, or maybe peel off one of those sticky coupons attached to the package.  At most they may be willing to print out a coupon once in a while that comes in an email newsletter, or stop by Cannasaver.com on the way to the pot shop and print one out real quick, but this is generally the extent of the time and effort they will invest in saving money on weed.  These casual couponers do save money and get some good marijuana deals with very little effort, but their savings is minimal compared to other groups.

Generic Deal Shoppers will wait to decide what strain to buy until they see what the best weed deal is today.  These shoppers are usually willing to settle for something other than what they really want as long as they can save some money and stay within their budget or buy more weed.  This can be a great way to get the best dispensary deals, but we all know, sometimes generic brands don’t quite live up to our expectations the way the name brands do.  Generic shoppers tend to not use coupons much, and could get more great deals on marijuana if they did.

The coupon deal shopper has a little bit of time and effort to invest, and they are willing to do it.  They take a few moments before their shopping trip to get all their ducks in a row and save money and it pays off.  Deal shoppers are willing to try a new brand to get the best shatter deals, or even drive to a new dispensary to use the best weed coupons.  Coupon deal shoppers save a lot of money and don’t have to completely rearrange their life to save money and get great deals on weed.

Extreme couponers are a breed all their own.  They never buy anything that isn’t on sale AND has a coupon.  They can save up to 75 to 90% or more, but they make up for it in personal investments.  Being an exreme couponer saves buckets of money, but can really eat into your personal life.  Luckily, places like Cannasaver.com make using weed coupons so much easier than grocery couponing, that it isn’t necessary to be an extreme couponer if you want to save money and get great deals on weed or shatter.  Just drop by cannasaver.com, print the coupons you want, and head to the dispensary.  It’s as simple as that.

Now you can decide how much time and effort you are willing to commit to getting the best deals on marijuana and start using weed coupons to save money on most or all of the pot that you buy.  The type of weed couponer that you choose to be will determine your next steps.

There is no right or wrong way to coupon, just ways to save more or save less.  Choosing the style of saving that suits you best personally is one of the best tips for true marijuana savings success.  If using pot coupons seems like a chore, then you aren’t doing it right.  Couponing, and the money it saves, should be a fun and exciting experience like getting high.  The first time you use a marijuana coupon and get a great deal on weed with so little effort, you’ll be hooked – on couponing and the savings it creates!

Go smoke another one and decide how much money you’d like to save when you buy weed.  Then get ready, get set, and let’s take care of that next step in weed couponing – Getting organized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Marijuana Massage Trends to Try at Home

Cannabis has become a part of mainstream culture, mentioned daily by national media outlets and losing its stigma as more and more states legalize marijuana and more people turn to the benefits of cannabis for pain relief, stress relief and treatment for anxiety disorders such as ptsd, and other medical  uses. Cannabis has even shown its merit in the field of massage therapy, giving therapists a new vehicle through which to provide added relief and benefits to their patients. Some of the techniques utilized by professional massage therapists who use marijuana in massage can be practiced by anyone. Here is a description of how marijuana is used in massage by professional therapists, and how you can safely incorporate cannabis into self-massage or partner massage.

How marijuana enhances massage

Cannabis oil has been show to reduce pain and help release tension in the muscles, making it a lot easier for the massage therapist to really get in there and do their thing to fully release the tension and loosen the muscle. CBDs, which are compounds found in different concentrations in different marijuana strains, have been shown to reduce the time it takes to heal and recover from injuries to the connective tissues. Marijuana's greatest benefit to massage however may be in its ability to reduce anxiety and help you relax so that the massage will be more effective. If you're not used to getting a massage, having a stranger touching all over your back and possibly triggering a lot of pain in the muscles as tension is release can be very uncomfortable, to say the least. The relaxing properties of THC in marijuana ingested pre-massage can help you be less self-conscious so that you can loosen up and get the greatest benefit from the treatment.

Using cannabis oil and other marijuana topicals in massage is becoming trendy in modern culture, but it is nothing new. Marijuana has been used for its therapeutic and medicinal benefits for thousands of years, practiced in ancient Egypt, China, and Mesopotamia, as well. The oldest surviving medical texts from these cultures mention cannabis use as if it's a long-known, well established medical treatment. Marijuana was used by the ancients to treat inflamation, fever, pain, and many other maladies and complaints. One treatment used in ancient Egypt was to rub an ointment containing cannabis oil on affected parts of the body to help relieve soreness and inflamation.

Marijuana in Massage Today

Today, massage therapists who use marijuana and massage hand in hand use marijuana infused creams and oils to enhance the massage treatment.The Lodo Massage Studio in Denver, for instance, offers a massage in which a cannabis-infused pain relieving cream is rubbed into the muscles as part of a deep tissue massage or other massage therapy session. The formula they use is reputed to have a soothing, cooling sensation that provides relief from pain as well as anti-inflammatory benefits. It's called Apothecanna's Pain Crème, and it contains  a mixture of THC, CBD, arnica, peppermint, and juniper.  Apothecanna has a whole line of different marijuana-infused massage products, each formulated to provide relieving, calming, or stimulating effects. Life Flower Dispensary in Glendale offers Apothecanna products, and they have a dispensary deal where they offer 10% off topicals every Tuesday. Such massage creams and oils won't get you high, but they can certainly help relax the body.

If you're traveling to Denver and interested in a marijuana massage, you can schedule one through many of the marijuana tour companies including Colorado Cannabis Tours and My 420 Tours.

Using Marijuana Massage at Home

Even if you're not a trained massage therapist, you can still reap the benefits of marijuana massage safely at home. The rule is to not go deep unless you definitely know what you're doing—leave deep tissue massage to the professionals, as you can accidentally do serious injury if you manipulate the muscles incorrectly. But if you keep your touch gentle and your strokes light, moving your hands in slow circles or rubbing them up and down across the muscles, you can gain a lot of relief. You can practice gentle touch massage on yourself or on others, and there are many ways to utilize marijuana to enhance the massage. You can incorporate marijuana infused oils and creams like the professionals do, if you're wary of catching a buzz but would like to enjoy the pain-relieving, muscle-relaxing benefits of marijuana. You might even try your hand at creating your own homemade cannabis tinctures. If you're looking for pain relief and muscle relaxation as well as the blissful buzz, your best bet is to ingest thc-containing marijuana pre-massage. Smoking marijuana or consuming edibles will relax the mind as well as the body, providing both a psychoactive and a physical effect. Be sure to use caution if you've never tried psychoactive marijuana before, and if you're pregnant or you have any physical, mental, or medical conditions, ask a doctor first just to be on the safe side. Especially with edibles, first timers should be careful and moderate with dosage until they get used to the way cannabis uniquely affects their mind and body. Start slowly by bringing just a little cannabis into your massages, and work your way up to using marijuana in higher dosages and concentrations after you're sure you like the effect. If you're uncertain, just stick with the marijuana-infused creams and oils and skip the high.

To learn more about marijuana massage, check out this article from Massage Magazine.

 

 

 

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LivWell Deals on CannaSaver! 

All LivWell deals on CannaSaver are good at every LivWell location in Colorado. With deals on ounces of weed, joints, topicals, CBD, vape cartridges there’s something for everyone at LivWell.   

The LivWell Deals are: 
 

$49.99 for Pre-Weigh Half Rec Ounces: LivWell does the heavy lifting before you enter the shop by offering you pre-weighed half ounces. You will have many diverse and delicious flavors to choose from. 

$69.99 for Pre-Weigh Med Ounces: Quality cannabis at the right price. A premium ounce available on the medical side. 

20% off 5 Leaf Topicals: Want to feel good but not get baked? Then lather up with the smooth and sultry Leaf Topicals. 

20% off Tonic Drops & CBD Pet Tinctures: If your pet is suffering from general aches and pain, than CBD for your dog or cat or possum may be the best option for you. Tonic Drops have a proven track record of aiding pets with cannabis.

4 Pre-Roll Joints for $20 (Medical): That’s just $5 for a joint!

5 Pre-Roll Joints for $30 (Rec): That’s just $6 for a joint!

2 for $70 Clear Cartridges: Discover “Sunshine in a Bottle” and choose from one of the Clear’s 16 diverse flavors. An industry leader and the pioneer in distillate production, The Clear is a consistently strong vaporizer product.

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Great Deals on Delicious Pot Edibles

There must be some serious munchy pot going around lately, because every thought seems to end in food.  Luckily, there are plenty of great deals on some of the most delicious, and cheapest edibles in Denver.  Many dispensaries have coupons available for any of their edibles, but a few also offer coupons on specific brands or flavors of marijuana edibles in their store. 

Starbuds Aurora has a BOGO ½ off deal on Edipure licorice in grape and orange cream flavors.  For those who aren’t big on chocolate, this deal is sweet!  But what about the rest of us, where are the chocolate deals, and what are the flavor choices?

Both River Rock North and River Rock South are offering coupons for 25% off of Dixie Elixirs chocolate bars.  Dixie Elixirs offers a handful of yummy sounding marijuana edibles featuring chocolates in several flavor profiles.  For a mellow, sweet and salty snack there’s Chocolate Cherry Pretzel, a blend of milk chocolate, tart cherries and salty pretzel pieces.  If you’re in the mood for something that reminds you of your youth, try the Krispy Kracken, with 34% premium cacao milk chocolate and crispy rice, it will take you back to the playground, and feeling like you belong there, in no time.  Perhaps you are planning a reserved adult get together?  Then Dixie Rolls might be what you’re looking for.  These are reminiscent of those chewy chocolate bites from childhood, only with an adult kick – and the perfect serving size for cocktail trays.  For those with a more grown-up palate, or maybe looking for something to pair with a good beer, there’s the Toasted Rooster Bar.  This 70% cacao dark chocolate bar features roasted pepita and artisanal sea salt for an intense, yet well balanced, culinary experience in a marijuana infused chocolate bar. 

Preferred Organic Therapy (POT) Denver is offering a coupon for 20% off Blue Kudu chocolate.  Blue Kudu’s full recreational line currently has 9 different flavor combinations for every taste bud and food mood, and their names are pretty cool too.  For instance, there is the Alpine Glacier mint dark chocolate bar, and the Canyon Lands, which is peanut butter and milk chocolate.  Other flavors include Craters of the Moon (white chocolate with cookie bits), Isle of Capri (dark chocolate with orange), Jungle Roast (dark chocolate with a coffee crunch), Mesa Skyline (milk chocolate and toffee), Polar Caps (milk chocolate and peppermint bark), Zen Garden (cherry almond dark chocolate) and last but not least Tierra Del Sol, a dark chocolate bar with chili, cinnamon and lime. 

Labor Day will be here soon and in the patriotic spirit, Preferred Organic Therapy has another great marijuana edible coupon for Incredibles Firecracker Bars at 25% off.  Great for parties or just hanging out, the Firecracker features a white chocolate candy bar with red and blue exploding bits throughout.  Bring your own fireworks to the BBQ and enjoy some of the cheapest edibles in Denver, but act fast, this great marijuana coupon expires when summer does.

All that chocolate sounds just awesome, but what if your allergic, into your health, or just not in the mood?  Then look to Julie’s Natural Edibles the next time you’re shopping for the cheapest edibles in Denver.  Julie’s Natural Edibles are not only delicious and nutritious, they’re good for you (and the planet too).  Available in four choices, all of Julie’s products are gluten free and produced in a gluten free kitchen.  They are also free of refined sugar, pesticides, and GMO’s.  If sweet’s your flavor, then Julie’s has a couple of options.  The maple, almond and sunflower seed Nutty Bite, which is kissed with a hint of cinnamon.  There is also the straight-up granola, Groovy Granola Bar for those who just want something they recognize the flavor of and nothing fancy – there are tons of heart-healthy oats in this tasty treat.  Want something a little sweet and a little salty?  Try Julie’s Fresh Granola.  This trail mix style granola mix includes plenty of oats, fruits, seeds and nuts combined with their cannabutter, maple syrup and kosher salt.  If you’re in the mood for something altogether savory instead of sweet, then try the Roasted Seed Mix.  Ready to eat out of the bag, or sprinkled on your favorite soup or salad, these cannabis-infused roasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds will make your tummy and the rest of you feel so much better than before.  Ready to give Julie’s a try?  It looks like POT is at it again with another great marijuana edible coupon for 20% off Julie’s Natural Edibles. 

How about those great deals on the cheapest edibles in Denver?  Not only are these edibles cheap and delicious, they are all manufactured right here in good old Colorado – so support two local businesses and go down to your local dispensary and buy some deliciously cheap edibles today!

 

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Picking Great Bud:  Red Hairs and Glitter Say a Lot

Picking great marijuana can be as easy as visiting a dispensary with a reputation for selling great bud, but sometimes that can be easier said than done.  Marijuana is an agricultural product, and just like our fruits and veggies, sometimes the crop isn’t picked at the perfect time and quality suffers.  Picking too early or too late can affect the flavor, THC and cannabinoid content and high of the finished product.  So how can a marijuana consumer tell if the pot they’re buying was picked at its peak?  One way is to take a good hard look at the bud before you buy it.  A bud will say a lot about its life in its appearance.  In determining if it was picked at the right time there are two main things to look for, red hairs and glitter.

Red hair

Mentioning hair in pot makes many potheads remember the old days when picking dog hair out of the baggie was a part of rolling a joint.  But red hair in marijuana can be a great sign.  If a bud is covered in red hair, that is a great indicator that it was left on the plant until it was done developing, which means the percentages of THC and cannabinoids will be higher than if it had been harvested early. 

There are a couple of important notes concerning red hair in marijuana.  First, not all strains have the ability to produce as much red hair as others.  These “hairs” are actually part of the cannabis flower, and just like many flowers, different varieties produce different color variations.  Some strains of pot produce these red “hairs” while others have smaller, and harder to see, hair.  Second, these hair parts can also indicate a bud that was picked too late and started to lose quality and THC content.  If the hairs seem particularly withered or brittle, another strain may be your best bet this time around unless you can grab it on discount, like day old bread.

Glitter

We are not talking about that movie about the singer.  Glitter, as in the sparkly, shiny stuff that envelopes each and every nook and cranny of a good bud.  Mother nature’s greatest marketing tool ever – a glittery bud and a few well aimed LED lights, and everyone will come and buy your beautiful and irresistible buds.  And if those buds are coated in glitter, then they very well should go and buy those buds! 

The glitter on marijuana is actually the trichrome and home to the volatile oils that make the plant what it is -  the oils that make up live resin.  Get up close and personal with a bud sometime and check these little gems out.  Each and every one of those sparkly little dots is really a tiny little bubble of the good stuff.  THC, cannabinol, and other active chemicals are carried and housed in these bubbles of oil.  When marijuana has lots of these bubbles left on it in the pot shop, this means a couple of things.  It means that the bud was allowed to mature to a point where it produced a lot of this oil, which means it should be stronger.  It also means that it was not allowed to stand in the field too long and loose vital potency.  But lots of glitter left on the bud also means that it was cured and handled with care and that its at least fairly fresh.  As pot sits around and dries out, so do these oils, making even the best weed loose quality and glitter if not stored properly. 

When shopping for your favorite strains of marijuana at your local dispensary remember to keep one eye open for red hairs and glitter.  Better than thumping a melon, these are two tried and true indicators of mature, high quality marijuana that is sure to provide the high you are looking for at great cannasaver prices

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Pot Couponing 101

Since before your grandmother’s time, coupons have been a super way to stretch the family budget.  That’s still true today for many day-to-day products like food, toiletries, and weed.  Yes, weed coupons do exist and can make your marijuana budget go even farther than you ever thought possible.  So where do you find coupons for marijuana and how do you use them.  Check out this basic primer and start saving money on weed today!

Locations with dispensaries certainly have no shortage of them, and this can mean superior savings for the savvy marijuana consumer.  Trust this starving writer, there are many ways to save money on marijuana by couponing, it only takes a moment to save enough money to buy more weed!

Let’s face it, most marijuana enthusiasts have a limited budget available to spend on their favorite cannabis indulgence, so the more money we can save, the more marijuana we can buy.  I am no extreme coupon queen (or king) but I have been known to save a few dollars here and there.  More than that really, I am proud to say that just last week I saved $45 at the grocery store and walked out paying only $40 for my $85 purchase – and with only a 10-minute time investment before my shopping trip.  Shopping for pot is no different.  Just a few moments of your time and a couple of great resources, and you too can be on your way to saving money and bringing home more awesomely delicious weed.

For first timers, couponing doesn’t just mean using those wonderful ink and paper coupons we know so well, couponing also refers to taking advantage of sales, specials, and other offers.  Anything that offers you a way to save money can be used in couponing – all savings are fair game.  Here are some of the best ways to save money and coupon for pot. 

Daily Specials

Many dispensaries offer different deals or daily specials each day of the week, so that everyone can get a new deal every day of the week.  Most pot shops offer different specials each day and also have a set menu of deals on their website.  For instance, Three Rivers Organics in Pueblo has these deals on their in-store menu in addition to the great coupon deals they have available at Cannasaver currently:

• Sunday – 15% off edibles
• Monday - $5 off a $30 or more purchase
• Tuesday – 10% off tinctures
• Wednesday -  Managers choice 20% off
• Thursday – 20% off topicals
• Friday – Wax/concentrates 3 for $70
• Saturday - $1 pre-roll with $30 purchase

Many dispensaries like Three Rivers Organics in Pueblo, run similar weekly deals, there’s sure to be at least a couple in your neighborhood.  Check your favorite dispensary, their website, or stop by CannaSaver and see all the best pot deals and coupons in your area every day. Note that as with most coupons, these special prices are usually pre-tax – so keep that in mind when counting your pennies.

Other pot shops offer great special deals daily, just at special times, or different deals each day These specials, and many other daily deals like them, can save up to 30% or more off your total cannabis purchase. Or if you prefer, get you up to 30% more weed.

Coupons

How could we possibly write an article about couponing without mentioning coupons?  We couldn’t.  Because printed coupons, like the ones at Cannasaver were some of the first ways to save money on marijuana, and are still one of the best.  Just search for the deal or product you are looking for and find dispensaries near you with the products you want at the prices you need to buy them at.  Why pay full price for a gram of Kush or those infused chocolate candies, when you can almost always find it for a much better price, just a few miles or blocks away. 

Printed coupons like the ones you find at Cannasaver are better than other ways to save for lots of reasons like:

• Print it and forget it – that is, don’t forget it.  Printed coupons you can stick to the fridge are easier for forgetful stoners to take to the store and use than remembering to use an app.
• No Wi-Fi Needed – Don’t you hate it when you get to the store and can’t use your digital coupons because there’s no wi-fi?  With printed coupons, that is never a problem.
• No Arguments – Hate arguing with the cashier because they say your product isn’t in the computer for that price?  With printed coupons that doesn’t happen because printed coupons are …
• Printed in Black and White – As well as other colors.  But the colors used isn’t what’s important.  The important thing is that you have printed evidence of the offered deal in the unlikely case that there is a dispute about the coupon deal being offered.
• No Surprises – Have the specifics of the deal right in front of you, all the time – expiration date and quantity limits and any other requirements too (such as “medicinal only”).  Using printed coupons like the ones you can print at Cannasaver, the only surprises you’ll get are the good kind – when you hear the final total of your next purchase at the pot shop. 
• Great Savings Anytime – Take the worry out of coupon savings by storing your cannabis coupons in your wallet, purse, or backpack as soon as they roll out of the printer.  By keeping them with your money and ID, you are sure to have the savings ready anytime you need to drop by the dispensary.

Daily deals and paper coupons are just a couple of the ways to save money on your cannabis purchases.  Watch for more in our series on how to save money on marijuana on our blog.  While you wait for our next informative post, check out the amazing savings on all things cannabis at Cannasaver.com.

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First time at a marijuana store : What to expect and how to get the best marijuana deals in denver

Have you been thinking about trying marijuana, but wondering what to expect your first time at a marijuana store? Visiting a marijuana dispensary is a great first step for a first time marijuanauser who isn't quite sure what to do or what to get. You might be wondering how to find the best dispensary deals Denver weed stores are offering, and what are the best marijuana deals in denver that you can take advantage of as a marijuana first timer. You might have more basic questions, perhaps wondering, which marijuana product is right for me? One of the best things about going to a dispensary is that the marijuana stores have expert staff members who can answer questions, explain all the different marijuana products available, and guide you towards a good selection. If you've never been to a weed store before, your first time at a marijuana dispensary is definitely an exciting experience. Knowing what to expect during your first time at a marijuana store will help you feel more confident so that you can relax and fully enjoy the experience. Here's what it's really like to buy marijuana in Colorado at any of the numerous neighborhood weed stores.

Marijuana dispensaries range from modest like Denver Recreational Dispensary to sprawling like Medicine Man Denver, and most look very unassuming from the outside. You won't see any storefront windows packed with marijuana on display, or any signage advertising the best marijuana deals in Denver. Instead, you'll probably find a very plain looking building with a simple sign that says the name of the business, perhaps embellished with a pot leaf or the traditional green cross. To find the best dispensary deals Denver locals look on CannaSaver where you can find marijuana coupons from dispensaries like Platte Valley Dispensary and Medicine Man Denver, and also get an idea of what prices are like at the different dispensaries. The best marijuana deals in Denver are never far away.

When you first go into the marijuana dispensary, you'll enter a little waiting room area that's separate from the area where the marijuana products are kept and sold. This part of the process usually feels a bit formal, sort of like being in a doctor's office. Here, someone will check your id before you're allowed to go any further into the dispensary. You absolutely won't be allowed to shop without a valid government-issued photo id that shows you are at least 21 years of age. This means that if your license is expired, or you forgot it, you're out of luck. Once your id gets the okay, the staff person will guide you into the dispensary. There are rules about how many people can be in the dispensary area at a time, so sometimes you have to wait a little bit before you're allowed to go in. There is usually not much of a wait, maybe 10 or 15 minutes at most but typically you'll be able to go right in.

Once you do get in the main marijuana dispensary area, you'll find a whole new world. You'll likely receive a friendly greeting as your eyes feast on the shining display cases and shelves stocked with jars upon jars of beautiful buds of various marijuana strains. You'll also find concentrates such as wax, oils, and shatter, a variety of marijuana edibles from candies to cookies to soda pops, pipes, vaporizers, bongs, and other smoking accessories, and often clothing, stickers, incense, and other gift products and novelty items.

The people that work the counter at the marijuana dispensary are called budtenders. The budtender will weigh out your weed for you and answer any questions you may have. Many dispensaries will let you take a quick whiff of the buds and get a closer look, so don't be shy about asking to check out the marijuana up close before you decide on a strain. When it comes time to pay for your marijuana, it's a nice gesture to tip your budtender just as you would tip a bartender.

You'll have to use cash to make your marijuana purchase, so come prepared in case there isn't an ATM nearby. Be aware that marijuana products are heavily taxed, so expect to pay up to an additional 20% or so in marijuana tax on your purchase. There is a 12.9% state tax, plus city and county taxes that vary from place to place. When you buy your weed, you'll also need to buy what is called an “exit bag.” This specially made opaque bag with a safety closure is something that the law requires, the idea being that your marijuana purchase will be discreetly concealed when you exit the store. They typically cost only a dollar or two, and you can reuse the same bag if you end up visiting the dispensary again.

If you're feeling ready for your first time at a marijuana store, use the search tool on Cannapages to find a marijuana dispensary near you. Get some marijuana coupons while you're at it, too. The best dispensary deals Denver offers include discounts, sales, daily specials, and other money-saving promotions. Just go to CannaSaver to find the best marijuana deals in Denver. With marijuana coupons in hand, options for where to go, and the knowledge of what to expect once you get there, you'll be shopping for the first time at a marijuana store like a pro.

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Practical Tips for Combating the Side Effects of High THC Cannabis

A recent article discussed the most common side effects of high THC cannabis strains and some expert tips for how to fight them.  While these tips were helpful, they just seemed to be missing something, practical experience.  Here are a few tried and true tips to fight off these bothersome little buddies of pot smokers everywhere.

Start Slow

The experts will tell you to start with a low dose.  This a great game plan for more than one reason.  First, it is a slower and more controlled way to get high.  Second, it can save a ton of weed and money.  The marijuana available today is if such high quality that it only takes a puff or two of some strains to leave veterans like Snoop Dogg drooling for hours.  Save some money and stay just high enough, by going slow and adjusting as needed.

Edibles are all Different for Everyone

We have all heard about the nightmare experiences that edibles have caused and when we first got to Colorado, my husband and I were both more than a little leery of trying edibles for the first time.  Neither of us are noobs and have had more than one or two pot brownies in the past, but the stories we heard didn’t set very well.  When we finally tried some, it was not at all what we were expecting. 

The first ones we tried came as pills and highly recommended by a budtender who said she used them regularly (and looked very nicely baked).  Although the effects were mildly noticeable after eating several, it was most definitely not what we were expecting after all the warnings.  The second edibles we tried were Americana gummies.  They tasted pretty decent, and oddly enough, made our mouths a little numb as we chewed them.  Even with that immediate effect, it still took at least an hour to feel the full effects, and then it was still only a “one-beer-buzz” feeling after eating 4 each.  Most definitely not any sort of scary or bad trip.  Of course, everyone’s experience is different, just be prepared and don’t plan on operating any dangerous equipment or cooking a soufflé when trying edibles for the first time.   Also look for a dispensary running a deal on edibles because they do tend to cost a good bit more than a regular bag of treats.

Anxiety and Paranoia

The very best tip for this is to be comfortable before you get high.  Being in a situation where you fear getting caught will always intensify feelings of guilt, paranoia and anxiety.  Remember how anxious you got smoking in Mom’s house?  Or how about the paranoia in the school bathroom – knowing you would get expelled if you got caught?  What’s the very best way to combat anxiety and paranoia when smoking cannabis?  Move to a state where it’s legal. I did, and my anxiety and paranoia instantly went down 85 percent.  For most this is not an option, but here are a few tips to try:

• Use cover scent like incense, automatic air fresheners, or ionizing air cleaners.  Hiding or eliminating the pungent aroma of good pot from intruding neighbors and unexpected visitors will ease fears immensely.
• Don’t smoke in the main living area during visitor hours.  Save the kicked back TV time for after the kids are in bed.  In most places, the police can’t even visit without reason after 10pm, making the living room a safe and cozy place to enjoy your right to pursue happiness. 
• Don’t be high around people or situations that make you feel guilty.  Some smokers don’t feel comfortable being high around their kids or family, while others have no problem going to the PTA meeting baked.  If your personal morals or ethics make it feel wrong to be high – then don’t be.  Don’t cave into peer pressure, just save the bowl for when you get home and enjoy it instead of getting freaked out because you find yourself too high at church.

Cottonmouth and Dry Eyes

These side effects are said to be best combated by drinking plenty of water.  Hydration it seems, is the key to everything, including reducing two of the most annoying side effects of smoking cannabis.  In addition to staying well hydrated, be sure to keep a drink nearby when you sit down for smoking sessions.  No matter how well hydrated you may be, some strains of marijuana just cause cottonmouth and that’s that.  Being well hydrated is also said to help with dry eyes.  One thing to remember not to do is rely too heavily on eye drops.  Overuse can actually end up making eyes dryer and reducing natural tear production.  Not to mention, the medicines in certain eye drops can cause diarrhea when used excessively.

The Munchies

The munchies can be a reason to smoke or a bad side effect depending on who you ask, but one thing’s for sure, they do exist and they are hard as heck to stay away from once they show up at the party.  Short of eating everything in the kitchen or inventing really strange recipes, there is one certain way to keep the munchies at bay.

Any veteran pot smoker knows that there is one sure fire way to kill a good buzz – eat.  So many long time smokers simply use will power, and their dedication to stay high, as their number one weapon in the war against the munchies.  Don’t give in and eat, and stay higher longer.  Smoke a little and eat a pizza, and an hour later you will find yourself repeating the process -  and the calories start to add up.  But smoke and wait it out, and the munchies will pass sooner or later and save 500 calories or more as well as a great buzz.

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Weekly Market Report: Best Marijuana Deals in Denver for August 7th-August 13th

If you like to save money on weed, this is your lucky week. There are a lot of great dispensary deals going on in Denver Colorado right now, with sales and discounts on wax, shatter, flower, edibles, marijuana vapes, and more. Whether you're looking for the best recreational dispensaries in Denver, or whether you have a red card and can take advantage of the medical marijuana deals, there are lots of ways to save right now if you know where to go and what to get. Here's the Savvy Stoner's weekly roundup of the best dispensary deals in Denver for ounce deals, concentrates, and edibles.

Best Ounce Deals in Denver

Livwell and Platte Valley Dispensary are the places to go for the best dispensary deals in Denver for the lowest price ounces of flower you can get right now. For recreational marijuana customers, Livwell has the best ounce deal in Denver, offering a full ounce of select strains for just $99.99 plus tax. This marijuana deal is available at all their locations including Livwell Broadway, Livwell Stapleton, and Livwell Evans. Platte Valley Dispensary has the best ounce deal in Denver this week for medical marijuana customers. You can get an ounce of top-shelf flower for just $100, tax included. This is about the lowest price ounce you'll ever find in Denver, so if you've got your red card, stock up now while the price is right.

Best Marijuana Deals in Denver

If you don't have enough funds right now to take advantage of the best ounce deals in denver, you can still procure a decent amount of marijuana for fairly little. Platte Valley Dispensary has one of the best marijuana deals in denver for recreational marijuana customers looking to buy small quantities. Eighths of any strain of flower—and they have a great variety of marijuana strains to choose from—is only $25, all taxes included. If you want to save money on marijuana more than you care about having the best selection at the moment, you can get a slightly lower price on an eighth at Livwell, where shake eighths are only $15 and eighths of select strains (one or two) are just $20, plus tax. They usually have different strains available at their different locations, so just call ahead and see what marijuana strains they have on special at Livwell Franklin, Livwell Broadway, Livwell Evans, and their several other dispensaries. Just look on Cannapages to find the Livwell location nearest you.

Best Wax Deals and Best Shatter Deals in Denver

The best shatter deals in denver this week for medical marijuana customers are at RiverRock North and RiverRock South, where craft shatter is only $25 a gram if you have your red card. For recreational marijuana customers, Rocky Road Aurora has one of the best wax deals and best shatter deals in denver if you're looking to buy more than a gram but less than an ounce of concentrates. For $93, you can get 3 grams of wax or shatter.

Vape Specials

If you're a recreational customer, head to Rocky Road Aurora for the best vape specials in denver right now. They're offering a coupon on CannaSaver for $5 off any vape cartridge, any brand, any strength. They also have the Tumbleweed 250 mg vape pen on special for just $28, a $7 savings off their usual price. If you're a medical marijuana user, some of the best vape specials for both rec and med customers alike can be found at RiverRock South and RiverRock North. These recreational and medical marijuana dispensaries are offering a 20% off discount on the Evolab disposable vape, the 500 mg Evolab Chroma, and the Evolab Alchemy.

Best Dispensaries in Denver for Edibles

The best dispensaries in Denver for edibles this week are The Joint by Cannabis and CannaBotica. CannaBotica is offering medical marijuana customers $5 off any edibles purchase of $50 or more, and at The Joint by Cannabis, both recreational and medical customers receive 25% off discount on edibles, every monday. Located in the Highlands area of Denver, The Joint by Cannabis is a  marijuana dispensary that offers a wide variety of products including flower, concentrates, edibles, vapes, smoking accessories, and more. There are also some great daily specials on edibles to be found at Medicine Man Denver on Mondays, where edibles are buy one, get one half off for both recreational and medical customers.  

More Marijuana Deals

Deals change fast as supplies run out and varieties change at the local dispensaries, so if you want to take advantage of any of these current bargains, don't delay. You can always check the newest marijuana deals page on CannaSaver and subscribe to the newsletter, too, so you'll be in the know about any new marijuana deals just as soon as they become available.

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Is California Finally Ready for Recreational?

California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana way back in 1996, but some twenty years later still hasn’t been able to take the leap to recreational legalization until now.  Will 2016 finally be the year that Californians say yes to recreational use of marijuana?

Since 1972 voters in Cali have been trying to get pot legalized to little avail.  They started this wonderful movement we are experiencing today, but have not been able to reap the full rewards of all their hard work until now.  The election this year holds promise for many California potheads, with the inclusion of Proposition 64 on November’s statewide ballot.  Proposition 64, also known as the California Marijuana Legalization Initiative, seeks to legalize marijuana and hemp under state law and provide for the collection of certain sales and cultivation taxes.

The proposition has plenty of supporters across the state including the California Medical Association.  Sponsors began collecting petition signatures in February and had until July to collect the 365,000 signatures needed.  On May 4^th sponsors announced that they had collected 600,000 signatures.  It was also announced that as of May, supporters claimed to have over $6 million in funding while the opposition reported a mere $135,000 in available funds.  Money isn’t the only show of support for the initiative either, high profile individuals have thrown their official support behind the proposition, including former Presidential hopeful, Bernie Sanders and California Lieutenant Governor, Gavin Newsom.

Proposition 64 is not without its critics however.  One major opponent is the California Hospital Association.  Not surprisingly a physician spokesperson and family practitioner, Dr. Ted Pole of Ventura, was quoted as saying, “I don't think marijuana is something that improves people's health.”

The traditional medical community is not the only group moving with caution concerning Proposition 64, there are many growers and related marijuana industry professionals who are approaching the ballot measure with great caution.  These individuals and business owners interested in starting pot related businesses like Denver’s own Colorado Cannabis Tours are concerned with the rules and regulations built into the initiative.  Rules and regulations that dictate tax collection and other standard business regulatory mumbo jumbo, but also rules that limit the formation of monopolies for 5 years in an attempt to encourage competition – rules that certain entities were hoping to keep out of Proposition 64.

Recreationally legal weed and the potentially high profits that come with it is an issue that may or may not be settled in California once and for all this November.  Maybe the initiative will pass with flying colors, or maybe it will stall and die thanks to special interest groups.  Maybe the best chance that California’s Proposition 64 has for passing is that it was named after Colorado’s own great experiment, Proposition 64.

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Savvy Stoner: Best Dispensaries in Denver for Edibles Daily Specials

Looking for the best dispensaries in Denver for edibles? There are lots of one-time coupons and edibles deals you can get periodically on CannaSaver, but which stores have the best daily specials that you can count on week after week? Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays are the best days to shop for marijuana edibles, but if you know where to go, there are edibles deals to be found every day of the week. Here is the Savvy Stoner's roundup of the best dispensaries in Denver for edibles and daily specials.

Monday: Medicine Man Denver is one of the best dispensaries in Denver for edibles on a Monday. They offer a fantastic Monday edibles deal—when you buy an edible on a Monday, you'll get a second edible at a discount of 50% off. Medicine Man Denver sells both retail and medical marijuana, and they carry many edibles including the Leafs by Snoop line of edibles and Canyon strawberry lemonade suckers. Platte Valley Dispensary is another one of the best dispensaries in Denver for edibles on a Monday, although their deal isn't quite as good as the deal at Medicine Man. At Platte Valley Dispensary, when you buy an edible on a Monday, you can get another edible for 25% off the usual price. If you're in the Colorado Springs area, Quality Choice Alternative Care Dispensary also has a Monday buy one, get one half off on edibles special, and they carry a large selection of edibles that includes products like the marijuana-infused Monkey Bar by Incredibles. They are a locally owned and family operated medical marijuana dispensary, so unless you have your red card, you won't be able to shop there.

Tuesday: Herbal Remedies, a medical marijuana dispensary in Lakewood, Colorado near Denver, offers a 25% off discount on any edibles purchase made on a Tuesday. Herbal Remedies carries Blue Kudu, CannaPunch, Flower of Life Infused Products, Grandma's Chronic Goodies, Dixie Elixirs, and many other popular edibles brands. Herbal Remedies is located on Alameda Avenue in Lakewood and they're open seven days a week, but please note that they do only sell medical marijuana, as recreational marijuana sells are not allowed in the city of Lakewood due to a local ordinance.

Thursday: Another good edibles deal for medical marijuana patients can be found at Karmaceuticals. Stop by Karmaceuticals on Thursdays for their Thursday BlackJack game. Karmaceuticals members can win a marijuana cookie and a gram of flower, while non-members can score the free marijuana cookie. Karmaceuticals only sells medical marijuana, but they're open 365 days a year from 11:00a.m. to 7:00p.m. Quality Choice Alternative Care Center is also one of the best dispensaries for edibles on a Thursday, although they're located all the way down in Colorado Springs. Their “Thirsty Thursdays” special allows patrons to buy any marijuana infused beverage and get a second drink for half price. Quality Choice carries marijuana-infused sodas like Keef Cola and cannabis edibles like Dabba Chocolate. Dabba Chocolate is a cannabis-infused mint chocolate that was developed several years ago in Boulder, Colorado. They took home an award at the 2012 High Times Cannabis Cup, and since then, their products have become available in many marijuana dispensaries in Boulder, Denver, and all around the state of Colorado.

Everyday edibles deals in Denver: If planning ahead isn't your strong suit, just head to The Joint by Cannabis, where you get 20% off your edibles purchase any day of the week. The Joint by Cannabis is a recreational and medical marijuana dispensary located in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver. They're ranked as one of the top ten dispensaries in Colorado. Edibles in stock include Dixie Elixirs, CannaPunch, Wana, and more. Wana is a Colorado brand that got their start way back in 2010. They create a whole line of artisan edibles including gummies, rolls, caramels, and jewels. Wana is the maker of Colorado's favorite sour gummies, according to the Wana Brands website.

Best Edibles Deals Overall and More Ways to Save

Overall, the best dispensary in denver for edibles daily specials has got to be Medicine Man Denver since they sell both medical and recreational marijuana and have the buy one, get one half off deal on edibles every Monday. The absolute best way to save though and make sure you're getting the lowest price on edibles is to check CannaSaver before you shop. The newest deals page features the most recent marijuana specials while the edibles page shows all the active edibles deals and specials that are currently going on. Compare these deals to the daily specials mentioned above, and you'll be sure to get the best prices on edibles in Colorado, every time you shop, any day of the week.

 

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PTSD and Marijuana: More Veterans to Gain Access

Earlier this week, the state legislature of New Jersey voted to add PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) to the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, and recently a judge in Illinois ordered that PTSD be added to the Illinois medical marijuana program, as well. While PTSD is most often associated with military veterans, it's an anxiety disorder that can happen to anyone who has been through an emotionally charged, traumatic experience, especially if that experience involved a threat of serious injury or death. The symptoms that point to PTSD include reexperiencing, avoidance, and episodes of hyperarousal that may include insomnia, social isolation, or flashbacks of the traumatic memory. PTSD persists over time because of changes that happen in the brain at the time of trauma that leave the brain hyper-responsive to adrenaline and stress.

Veterans across the country have been turning to marijuana for years to help soothe PTSD symptoms, and many are finding some relief for their symptoms. As many as 20% of military veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from PTSD. VA hospitals in some states like Nevada and Maine allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for their PTSD patients, but many others do not have that opportunity.

That might change with a new PTSD and marijuana study that's currently underway to determine the benefits of marijuana on veterans with PTSD. Volunteer veterans in Maryland and Arizona will be asked to smoke up to two joints a day, and report on their progress. Different strains will be tested, as well, to determine which marijuana strains might be the most effective for treating PTSD symptoms. If the study helps show some tangible benefits, it might urge more states to add PTSD to their list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana.

Marijuana is believed to help relieve many symptoms of PTSD including insomnia, anxiety, and depression, and there may be even deeper benefits that have yet to be fully understood and realized. One study found that cannabinoids aided in the memory extinction process in mice, a finding that has huge applications for PTSD sufferers. The mice were exposed to a noise which was followed by an electric shock. After a few days, the shocks were discontinued but the mice were still exposed to the noise that used to precede the electric shock. In the mice that received the cannabinoids, they were able to readjust to the sound after a few days and no longer had a flinching response in fear of the anticipated shock. The mice that did not receive any cannabinoids never adjusted to the noise and showed the same flinching response as if they were going to get shocked even after the shocks had been eliminated. So why is this relevant for PTSD sufferers? People with PTSD can react to triggers in their environment that remind them of the intial trauma they experienced. For example, the sound of firecrackers can bring back memories and emotions associated with gunfire for those who have lived through such encounters. If cannabinoids can help mice develop memory extinction that allows them to disassociate stimuli from a learned response and instead react with a new response, human sufferers of PTSD could possibly find the same benefits.

To get the most benefit from using marijuana for PTSD symptoms like insomnia, the Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access website recommends low to moderate doses, preferably in the form of edibles that provide a precise, measurable dose. If you're taking marijuana for PTSD and you know you're going to be in a potentially triggering situation, the Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access website advises vaping or smoking a small to moderate amount, several times, in advance of the potentially triggering situation. As with any medicine intended to treat a health condition, it's always best to talk to your doctor first to find out the best type of medicine for you, how much you should take, and how often.

If you suffer from PTSD and you're lucky enough to live in a state that allows medical marijuana use for your symptoms (or if you live in a state like Colorado that has recreational marijuana), why not give marijuana a try and see if it could be of benefit? It could very well be the missing key that opens a new path toward hope and healing.

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Best way to smoke weed in August, August marijuana events and best dispensary deals in Denver

by The Savvy Stoner

Summer is waning and August is here, which is a little bit of a bummer for many of us who face back to school time or dread the coming of colder weather. But for now, the sun is still shining in Colorado where there's always a reason to celebrate the season with some super dank marijuana. From August marijuana events in Denver and best marijuana deals to a diy apple pipe just right for this time of year, here are the savvy stoner's top tips for enjoying the best of the Colorado marijuana lifestyle before summer truly comes to an end.

Best dispensary deals in Denver for August

Medicine Man Denver and Livwell have the best dispensary deals in Denver to grab this August. Both Denver dispensaries are offering recreational ounces for $99. At Livwell, the deal is good for select strains, with typically one or two types available. The deal is good at all their locations including Livwell Broadway. At Medicine Man, the deal is good for any single-strain top-shelf ounce and they offer a wide variety of strains to choose from. For the best concentrate deals Denver stoners are heading to The Joint by Cannabis where you can get two grams of wax or shatter for $50, recreational or medical.

Best August marijuana events in Denver

If you're looking for an unforgettable experience and network opportunities galore, check out the CannaCatwalk The Fusion fashion show in Denver that will take place August 22^nd at the Denver Performing Art Complex. The show features new and unusual cannabis product lines, vendors, entertainment, a party bus, and of course, fashion. There's also the Cannazaar going on which you can catch on August 14^th at Cluster Studios in Denver. With performance art, theatrics, contemporary artists, food vendors, outdoor games, shopping, marijuana party buses, and more, the Cannazaar has a little something for everyone. 

Best way to smoke weed in August

While the savvy stoner knows better than to give this kind of apple to the teacher, a homemade apple pipe is one of the most fun and festive ways to smoke weed in August. The first thing to do is remove the stem from a ripe, delicious Colorado apple. This stem-end is the end you will carve first, and once the apple pipe is complete, this is the end which you will place your mouth on to take your toke. Use a small paring knife or pocket knife to carefully cut around the core of the apple. Dig the core out carefully piece by piece, but take care to not remove too much. You'll want to remove about half of the core, so that the bottom end of the apple is still intact. Now turn your attention to the topside of the apple. You'll want to bore out a small bowl-shaped hole there, being careful to get close to, but not all the way down to, the hollowed out center core. I prefer to use the sharp end of a pencil for this, as it's easy to just poke in the pencil, swirl it around a few times, and you have a nice tapered bowl. Next you'll need to create a path for airflow between the bowl you just carved out and the hollow center. You need the hole to go all the way down to the hollowed out core of the apple, but you have to be careful to not make the hole too big or your weed will fall right through. If the hole is too narrow, you'll make your eyes pop out trying to get a hit. A toothpick is absolutely ideal, as this is just about the exact size hole you want to make. Just line up the toothpick with the middle of the bowl, and push the toothpick through carefully straight down and then up and out again in one smooth move. Now pack up the bowl and enjoy some apple-flavored marijuana.

 

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Marijuana News: Illinois Decriminalizes, Medical Marijuana in Florida, and More

There has been a lot to celebrate lately in world of marijuana legalization news. Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both seem to support federal marijuana legalization, Illinois just decriminalized marijuana, California voters will decide on recreational marijuana this November, and marijuana patients in Florida can now get their medicine. Why not toke one in honor of these latest little milestones and victories in marijuana legalization efforts?

Illinois marijuana users in can breathe a small sigh of relief thanks to a recent decision to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana within the state. Instead of facing court, arrest, and potential jail time, people who get caught carrying less than 10 grams of marijuana, intended for personal use, will now be hit with just a fine, set at a maximum of $200. This makes Illinois the seventeenth state to decriminalize marijuana possession in small amounts, and the country's third largest state so far to do so. Medical marijuana is currently regulated in Illinois under a pilot program that's recently been extended into 2020 and expanded to make marijuana available to PTSD and terminal illness patients, but before now, possession of non-medical marijuana in any amount was considered a criminal offense instead of a minor civil offense.

For those of us in Colorado and other states where recreational marijuana is legal and we can just walk right into one of the many marijuana dispensaries and buy some bud or even clones–not to mention the marijuana deals , daily specials, and the wide variety of marijuana strains—the idea of a possible $200 fine just for carrying a joint in your pocket seems ridiculously harsh and unfair, but for people in Illinois, it's a big improvement.

Prior to the bill's signing, people who got caught with even weed residue could potentially be arrested on the spot and taken to jail. Or, you might just get a ticket, all depending on the cop's sole decision. While Chicago and approximately 100 other cities in Illinois had already taken the step of giving police officers the ability to issue citations for minor marijuana offenses rather than making arrests, many of the state's lawmakers had concerns about whether or not the police were being unbiased in how they handled marijuana crimes. Democratic Senator Heather Steans, one of the bill's sponsors, stated, “We’re treating people really differently across the state, and we should be really getting out of that.”

Meanwhile in Florida medical marijuana advocates are celebrating the smallest steps towards progress in a state where marijuana laws have been notoriously harsh. Florida approved the medical use of non-euphoric, high CBD marijuana strains for people who have cancer or other debilitating diseases two years ago, but due to delays and obstacles in getting licenses for dispensaries, it was just last week that the first medical dispensary was able to make its first sale. Still, only high CBD strains that are virtually void of THC are available in Florida, such as the Charlotte's Web strain often prescribed to children who need it for its medical benefits. This means that no matter how much you smoke of the medical weed in Florida, you won't at all get high. That might change with a proposed amendment that will be on the November election ballot. Amendment 2 would make medical marijuana available to more patients and it would also allow for strains containing higher THC content. Not a huge step forward, but a step nonetheless.

Across the country, attitudes about marijuana are rapidly changing as cannabis makes the mainstream news daily and more and more states opt to reexamine and transform their marijuana laws. Marijuana is big business, and for the many states struggling with budget issues, cannabis legalization is beginning to look very appealing. California voters will decide on Proposition 64 this November, a California marijuana legalization initiative that would legalize recreational marijuana sales and impose a 15% sales tax, which if it passes, is expected to generate upwards of one billion dollars in tax revenue in the first year alone. With Hillary Clinton representing a Democratic Party platform that urges a pathway towards federal legalization and Donald Trump contradicting the Republican Party platform by recently saying that both medical and recreational marijuana laws should be left up to the states, marijuana consumers, activists, and entrepreneurs have a lot to be hopeful for.

 

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Best Dispensary Deals in Denver for 7/17/16 – 7/24/16

Whether you're looking for good deals on recreational marijuana or medical marijuana in Denver, you're in luck this week, as many dispensaries are offering sales on flower ounces, concentrates, edibles, and more. Here are the best dispensary deals in Denver this week for both medical and recreational marijuana, marijuana edibles, wax, and shatter.

Best dispensaries in Denver for edibles

The best dispensaries in Denver for edibles this week are RiverRock North, RiverRock South, and Medicine Man Denver. RiverRock is offering 25% off on Dixie Elixirs chocolate bars at both their north and south locations, and they also have a coupon offering first-time customers 15% off their total purchase. These deals are good for both recreational and medical customers. RiverRock is open daily until 6:55 p.m. At Medicine Man Denver this week, recreational customers can get a 100 mg Bhang Fire Chocolate and a 10 mg Dutch Girl Caramel Waffle for only $20 out the door, tax included. Just print up the free coupons to score these deals.

Best Ounce Deals in Denver

The best-ounce deals in Denver this week are at Medicine Man Denver, Livwell, MMJ America, and Platte Valley Dispensary. Medicine Man Denver is offering recreational and medical single-strain ounces of any of their top-shelf strains for only $99 plus tax. Livwell has recreational ounces for $99, too, but only for select strains. Livwell Broadway has a 4.6-star rating. For medical customers, the best ounce deals in Denver right now are at Platte Valley Dispensary, which is offering medical ounces of select strains for $100 tax included to first visit medical patients and members.

Best Marijuana Deals in Denver – Less than an ounce

There are a few other weed deals worth noting this week if you're looking to buy less than a full ounce. The absolute cheapest price is the $15 eighth of recreational shake you can get at Livwell, with the deal from Medicine Man Denver –a $45 quarter—following at a close second. If you're a medical customer, MMJ America Golden Triangle is offering a special where medical patients can get 6.5 grams of flower for just $19.03, and receive this same price every day of the week if they choose MMJ America as their caregiver. Just be sure to get the marijuana coupons from CannaSaver to take advantage of all these specials.

Best Concentrate Deals in Denver

Medicine Man Denver has one of the best concentrate deals in Denver this week, with 3 grams of recreational wax or shatter for just $89 with coupon. MMJ America has a good deal for medical customers every Wednesday, where grams of wax are just $20 and grams of shatter are $25. If you're looking to stock up, they're also offering medical ounces of wax for $420, and recreational wax ounces for $550. Platte Valley Dispensary also has concentrate deals for both their medical and recreational customers alike. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, all concentrates are buy one, get one 50% off for all customers. If you do happen to be a medical marijuana patient, you can enjoy grams of concentrates for just $25 a pop for members or $30 each for non-members, or print the coupon and get member pricing on your first visit even if you're not a member.

New Specials Everyday

If you really want to save as much as possible on your marijuana, stay informed of the latest sales, deals, and trends by checking sites like CannaSaver and Cannapages. New dispensary deals and new marijuana coupons are added daily. If you don't want to spend all that time researching a weed bargain just subscribe to the CannaSaver newsletter or to the CannaBlog so you won't miss out on the best deals Denver dispensaries have to offer.

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Marijuana Dispensary offers Pokemon Go! Discounts in Denver

With Pokemon Go! one of the most popular phone apps of all time, restaurants, coffee shops, zoos, and now even marijuana dispensaries are getting in on the action, offering Pokemon Go discounts in Denver and other cities across the country as a way to help attract the droves of people young and old who are on the hunt for Pokemon. Life Flower Dispensary, a marijuana store in the Glendale area of Denver Colorado, is offering a  Pokemon Go! discount that gives players 5% off purchases of marijuana products including joints, buds, wax, shatter, edibles, pipes, bongs, dab rigs, and more. Life Flower Dispensary is the only marijuana dispensary in Denver selling to both recreational and medical customers that stays open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to midnight, with most Denver dispensaries closing several hours earlier. There's a small catch to getting the Pokemon Go deal, though, so be sure to read the details of the offer on the printable marijuana coupon from CannaSaver, a popular marijuana couponing site based in Colorado. You'll need to actually show the budtenders your Pokemon Go! profile on the app, and they'll check your profile to see if you make the cut—only Pokemon Go trainers that are level 5 or above will get the discount!

In  Pokemon Go! your trainer level increases when you gain more experience points. Experience points are earned as you catch Pokemon, hatch Pokemon eggs, collect items from Pokestops, evolve Pokemon, and win at Pokemon gyms. According to Serebii, a website dedicated to all things Pokemon, you'll need to amass 10,000 experience points before you'll reach level 5. That's not really too hard to do. The Pokemon Go app is so addictive that most players reach level 5 within the first few days of playing the game.

Pokemon Go! is a free phone app for IOS and Android devices that represents a collaboration between Nintendo, the Pokemon Company, and Niantic.  According to an article in Quartz, the app is bringing in over a million dollars daily in sales and Niantic's revenue for this year is expected to be five times the projected amount. The main action in the game is catching pokemon and battling pokemon, but the real fun is in the game's virtual reality appeal. If your phone has the gyroscope feature, pokemon will appear on your phone screen over a video backdrop of whatever is in front of you, meaning you might very well see a Bulbasaur sitting on top of your boss's head, or spot a Charizard chilling at the local post office. People of all ages are enjoying the game, from the kids and younger adults who grew up with Pokemon, to older generations that are just now discovering the Pokemon universe. The app urges players to get out and explore the world, bringing more people to parks, art districts, museums, libraries, bookstores, restaurants, and just about everywhere!

Weed stores like Life Flower Dispensary aren't the only businesses in Denver that are utilizing Pokemon Go discounts and special events to attract more customers. The Denver Zoo andElitch Gardens amusement park both offered discounts to Pokemon Go players, and there's a massive Pokemon Go bar crawl event planned for August 20 in Denver which is expected to attract thousands of visitors to participating businesses. There are over 2000 people signed up to attend on the Pokemon Go bar crawl Denver Facebook page, with over 9000 more potential guests who are interested in the event.

With the popularity of both  Pokemon Go and marijuana in Colorado, more and more dispensaries  might decide to take a cue from Life Flower and follow suit. Who knows? Maybe you'll catch a Snorlax snoozing amidst the jars of beautiful green buds, or spot a Koffing hiding out with the handblown glass pipes and bongs! And if you happen to get a Munchlax, just take it as a sign to eat some tacos and celebrate the joys of a world where weed stores are a reality and being a Pokemon Trainer out on an adventure catching Pokemon is a livable dream.

 

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