First Timers Guide to Edibles: Marijuana Gummies and Cannabis Candy

If you're a first timer or you're traveling to Denver for the marijuana tourism, you might be in need of a little guidance regarding what to buy at the local dispensaries. One of the most interesting and unusual marijuana products you can buy at Denver dispensaries are the marijuana edibles such as the marijuana gummies and other marijuana candy. Edibles can be enjoyed discreetly, and they're also a fun novelty, which makes them very popular among Denver marijuana travelers who come here for the marijuana tourism. Edibles are also a great choice for first timers looking for a consistent, controlled, and measured dose. There are a ton of edibles on the market, from beverages to pastries to chocolates. First timers and Denver travelers are often intrigued by the marijuana gummies and other types of marijuana candy, but they wonder, What edible should I try first? What marijuana candy is right for me? Here is a list of marijuana gummies and other marijuana candies available at Denver dispensaries that have come to be local favorites:

Marijuana Gummies for first timers and travelers

Highly Edible Gummies: Produced by Colorado cannabis company Cannapunch, Highly Edible Gummies are vegan, handmade, and organic marijuana candies that come in a variety of flavors. Many gummies contain gelatin, a product derived from animals. Vegetarians and vegans seeking a cruelty-free buzz should check out Highly Edible Gummies. They're as potent as they are delicious.

Americanna Gummies: Another good choice for first timers and marijuana tourists traveling to Denver is Americanna Gummies. These star-shaped marijuana candies are substantial, being both larger and denser than many other cannabis gummies on the market. You can get sweet gummies, or sour gummies. Americanna Gummies can be purchased in bottles containing ten gummies of 10mg each, and you can find them at Livwell Broadway and many other dispensaries in denver.

Edipure: Edipure products are lab-tested and carefully prepared to produce a marijuana candy with a consistent dosage and minimal cannabis aftertaste. They make an extensive line of marijuana gummies and other marijuana candies. First timers who aren't quite ready for a heavy head high should try the sour gummy bears. The sour gummy bears deliver 75 mg CBD and 25 mg THC per serving for a mild, nicely balanced effect. Their Raspberry Jellies feature both raspberry and blackberry flavored jellies,infused with 10 mg THC per serving. If you're looking for a marijuana gummy without gelatin, trythe Edipure Cherry Loves. They're made with natural cherry flavor and include organic grape juic concentrate, organic sugar, and black carrot juice concentrate. The bear-shaped gummies and fruit-shaped gummies will only be available until July 1^st when a new marijuana law goes into effect prohibiting the sell of animal-shaped or fruit-shaped marijuana gummies, so act quick if you want these products.

Marijuana Mints and other Marijuana Candy

Dixie Elixirs: Dixie Elixirs makes a great line of marijuana mints. One of their most popular is their Synergy Mixed Berry Mints. These mints contain 5 mg CBD and 5 mg THC per mint, providing a nice balance for the first timer or marijuana tourist seeking a milder effect. Just place the mint under your tongue, and allow it to dissolve. Their Awakening Mints are also worth trying if you're looking for a mild energy boost. These mints contain ginko, matcha, ginseng, and orange oil to help support mental alertness and enhance physical stamina. Awakening Mints deliver 3 mg THC per mint and are sold in packs of 16. Rocky Road Aurora and MMJ America both have a full line of Dixie products.

Med-a-mints: Med-a-mints are another marijuana mint to try. Infused with 10 mg THC per mint, Med-a-mints are sugar free and loaded with vitamin C. They come in a variety of interesting flavors like Exotic Chai Mint, Relaxing Vanilla Mint, and Energizing Vanilla Mint. You can get Med-a-mints at Medicine Man Denver.

CannaCubes: A great choice for first timers or marijuana tourism seekers, these small, sweet, indulgent Belgian sugar cubes are infused with high quality cannabis oil. Each cube delivers a 10mg dose of THC, and they're sold in packs of two. CannaCubes are part of The Dutch Girl line of products.

So Much Candy!

There are so many more marijuana gummies, mints, and other marijuana candies to try, this list just represents the must-try marijuana candies for first timers or marijuana tourism adventurers traveling to Denver. The best thing to do is to head to the closest dispensary and see for yourself the vast variety of marijuana candies and edibles available.

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Medical Marijuana: How this Cheaper, Safer Painkiller is Changing Health Care

Medical marijuana is being prescribed for pain more and more often these days, while traditional painkillers like Vicodin and OxyContin are being prescribed less and less. This change not only saves states money on their health care programs, but it's also saving lives as the number of overdoses caused by traditional painkillers has dramatically decreased. In a recent study conducted by Ashley and W. David Bradford from the University of Georgia, analyses of prescribing patterns and spending in state-funded Medicare Part D programs revealed that medical marijuana is having a significant impact on our nation's healthcare.

The study found not only that traditional painkillers were being prescribed far less where medical marijuana is a legal alternative, but also that states with legal medical marijuana were saving millions on their Medicare programs. Overall, reductions in Medicare spending where medical marijuana is legal added up to $165.2 million in 2013, a figure which is expected to continue to increase as more and more states opt to legalize the medical use of cannabis. If all fifty states were to legalize medical marijuana and prescribe it in line with these current patterns, it's estimated that the annual nationwide savings would total over half a billion dollars.

More important than the money savings though is the fact that medical marijuana is saving lives. In the states with legal medical marijuana, the study found that on average, physicians prescribed 1,826 fewer doses of traditional painkillers like Vicodin (hydrocodone), OxyContin (oxycodone), methadone, and Opana (oxymorphone), which are often associated with dangerous side effects, abuse potential, and a greater risk of overdose.

The Center for Disease Control considers painkiller overdoses to be a nationwide health epidemic, with an estimated 15,000 deaths each year attributed to an overdose of a prescription painkiller. From 1999 to 2014, over 165,000 people in the U.S. alone lost their lives to a prescription painkiller overdose. More people die from a prescription painkiller overdose each year than from heroin and cocaine overdoses combined. Methadone, Hydrocodone (such as Vicodin), and Oxycodone (like OxyContin) are the most common opioids involved in overdoses, and these are also some of the most commonly prescribed, especially in states where medical marijuana is not yet an option. Meanwhile, there has never been a single documented case of medical marijuana overdose leading to death or any other serious complications.

As more and more physicians are opening their eyes to medical marijuana as a safer alternative to prescription painkillers, more and more patients are reaping the medical benefits of cannabis, not just for pain relief but for a wide range of conditions including anxiety and depression. A 2016 survey of state databases found that there were 1,246,170 registered medical marijuana patients across the country. It's no wonder the pharmaceutical industry continues to lobby against further medical marijuana legalization—they're losing consumer faith, customers, and revenue daily as new research on the medical benefits of cannabis emerges and more states allow doctors the option to prescribe it. Numerous studies have shown the benefits of marijuana for pain relief, anxiety, depression, glaucoma, epilepsy, HIV, cancer, and other conditions. Marijuana is even reputed to help relieve discomfort and heighten sensitivity during sex. With more and more states legalizing not just medical marijuana but also recreational marijuana, cannabis has lost a lot of its stigma and its benefits are being more readily embraced, a change that's benefiting not only patients but also states looking for more efficient, effective, and safer healthcare options. As medical marijuana continues to open up new avenues of wellness, the healthcare landscape is transforming and the medical community has at last begun to evolve.

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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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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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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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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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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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How Much Weed Can You Buy In Colorado?

So you’re perhaps visiting colorful Colorado and you want to partake in as much cannabis smoking as humanly possible. We get it – with so many strains, terpenes, and types of marijuana products available, it’s like being a kid in a candy store. But how much weed can you buy in Colorado? Well, there seems to be a few set rules, but a lot of grey area around such rules. 

Let us explain. 

Buying Weed: How It Used To Be

It used to be that there were special marijuana deals you could get at marijuana dispensaries in Colorado that included an ounce of marijuana flower and a couple of grams of concentrates. These and many more of the best marijuana deals and best deals on concentrates in large quantities became a thing of the past on October 1st when new Colorado marijuana regulations went into effect that more specifically defined purchase limits by clarifying the concentrate to flower equivalency.

At the time, a gram of THC was considered a gram of THC, and tourists could only purchase up to 7 grams of it while residents in Colorado were allowed to purchase up to 28 grams of it, be it in the form of concentrates like wax and shatter, in the form of edibles, or in the form of buds. 

New(ish) Marijuana Regulations for Consumers

When the new marijuana regulations went into effect on October 1st, 2016, 800 mg of edibles or 8 grams of concentrate were considered equivalent to 28 grams of marijuana flower. One gram of concentrate is now considered equivalent to an eighth of flower, while two grams is equivalent to a quarter ounce. 

This meant that no longer would Colorado marijuana dispensaries be able to offer their retail customers anything close to an ounce of flower, paired with two grams of concentrates. 

So, now, if you purchase two grams of concentrates, the most bud you can buy is just three quarters.

Deals on whole ounces of concentrates have changed, too. The new regulations greatly diminished the quantity of concentrate purchased in a single transaction, and no longer are recreational marijuana consumers allowed to purchase more than 8 grams of concentrates at a time without exceeding the purchase limit. 

And, with many edibles packing 200mg THC per package, a few marijuana-infused candy bars can add up to the 800mg purchase limit very quickly. If you want to mix and match with some flower or edibles or concentrates, you have to really be smart in tallying up exactly how much of what you can legally get. The biggest challenge that marijuana dispensaries face now is to come up with alternative bundle packages that include a carefully thought-out balance of flower and concentrates or edibles that will appeal to marijuana consumers while staying within the rules (although you will see different dispensaries offer certain bundle packages that maximize how much weed you can buy in Colorado at a time).

New(ish) Marijuana Regulations for Dispensaries

Other new(ish) regulations have affected the cannabis industry more than the marijuana consumer. Remember that weird label that comes on every marijuana product you buy in Colorado, that looked a bit like a sheriff's badge, only it said, “Department of Revenue” and “marijuana” on it? That became a thing of the past as a new marijuana warning label has since been adopted. 

The new retail marijuana symbol features a diamond shape surrounding the word “THC” coupled with an exclamation mark. Each individually wrapped edible also contains this new icon. The new symbol for medical marijuana is virtually the same, only with an additional letter “m” to denote that it is a medical product. The new universal symbols came into use on October 1st, but there was a two-month grace period extending the compliance period until November 30th, 2016. Any establishments found selling marijuana labeled with the outdated universal symbol face serious penalties.

How Much Weed Can You Buy in Colorado Now?

The simple answer of how much weed you can buy in Colorado: Colorado residents and visitors alike may purchase up to 1 ounce (Oz) of marijuana at a time, once a day. 

Medical marijuana patients are allowed up to 2 ounces (Oz) of marijuana at a time, once a day. 

Possession of Marijuana in Colorado

Now, there currently isn't any system in place that actually prevents consumers from simply heading from one dispensary to another to get around the purchase limits, but the law also says that Colorado residents and visitors alike may only POSSESS up to 1 ounce at a time, while medical marijuana patients may only POSSESS up to 2 ounces at a time. 

So, nothing’s stopping you from going from dispensary and dispensary and maxing out your pot purchase limit, but be ye warned – if you’re caught with the possession of more than an ounce at a time (given you’re not a medical marijuana patient), there may be a fee or civil penalty assessed. We don’t recommend doing this. 

Don’t think you’re wise in leaving a dispensary with the maximum weed allowed, only to return and buy more, as they’ll have record of each transaction made. An example was made out of one of Colorado’s largest dispensaries, Sweet Leaf, after being busted for working around some of the loopholes.

If you’re driving, you can have weed in your car, but it must be under the allowed limit and must be in a sealed container. It is not allowed to consume marijuana in the car or while driving. It’s also not allowed to carry marijuana across state borders. 

So, whether you’re a Colorado resident and just don’t buy weed much or you’re only visiting Colorado for a short period of time, the new laws allow you to buy a significant amount of weed. So, how much weed can you buy in Colorado? The short answer is, enough. Unless you’re smoking an ounce a day, then we have a few problems to address. If an ounce a day isn’t enough, then just come back tomorrow! 

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Choosing the Right Edible for You

Edibles are becoming a major aspect of the Marijuana industry, in some people’s mind they have even more importance than just weed by itself. For a decent part of the Medical side of the weed industry they are very important, as they allow somewhat of a more seamless delivery of the cannibinoids they are looking for without having to interact with their lungs and respiratory system, as well as eliminating some of the less desirable aspects of smoking like coughing, dry mouth, resin dirtying up smoking utensils, as well as being a less challenging option for people with harsh arthritis or tremors, as grinding weed and packing a bowl and even smoking it can become a hassle for regular users. But more and more people are finding that the edibles they have been directed towards may not be as effective as they may have hoped, though the problem may not be with the quality of the edible itself. 

One of the major differences I have noticed people running into regularly is the kind of concentrates used to create the edibles themselves. The companies that produce edibles can go a few different routes in the infusion of their products, from the actual infusion process to the form of the THC being infused. For instance, some companies use what is essentially a very clean BHO product, similar to dabs but extra clarified, which work well for most people but in some cases doesn’t seem to process correctly in specific patient’s systems. When I encounter patients like this I generally try and push them to try something that has been created with cannabutter instead, which processes somewhat different and can be the missing element for several people I’ve talked to. Cannabutter also has some potential to retain a more complex profile than concentrates, as the flower itself is mixed straight with the butter that is then used to make edibles, usually more along the lines of baked goods and some chocolate hybrid edibles. If you have been having trouble getting the effects you’re looking for out of things like gummies or candies, it’s possible that this switch could greatly benefit you. 

Another element that is always important to consider is how much of the edible you are actually consuming. In some cases with larger edibles, such as full sized candy bars or very low dosage candies that you have to consume many pieces of to meet your dosage, the sugar content can become an issue especially when looking to use edibles for sleep, as the sugar can adversely affect the THC doing this job. This is also heavily dependent on what your actual dosage is, the higher you end up having to consume the more often you may run into these problems. I have talked to several customers that stray from edibles that may actually be more cost effective or the actual Indica/Sativa specific item they may be looking for simply because they don’t want to eat that much chocolate or candy. I am personally much more in favor of eating less actual edible mass in all categories, though I think there is definitely a market for full substantial actual snack or meal edibles. 

Some people that run into the common “THC gives me the munchies,” issue definitely benefit from having more to eat so as to avoid the problem of eating more than their dosage of edibles. Unfortunately because of the lack of regular demand for these kinds of products they are much harder to find on many dispensary shelves, even though there are companies that produce things like THC infused frozen pizzas. One solution to this is to go with pure cannabutter and just use it in conjunction with the food you  are going to eat anyway, everything from baked potatoes to a dollop in soup could be a much easier to control dosage option, though you will definitely have to feel out exactly how much yous hould be using, companies will always disclaim how much is technically in what amount of cannabutter bought at a dispensary but if you go the make-your-own route you definitely need to pay attention and start low, one of my neighbors basically quit trying after making a slightly too bomb plate of spaghetti. 

So there are many things to consider when you look for the edible that will give you the best version of what you are looking for, and I highly recommend making notes on what works for you and what seems to work less. I also recommend putting chocolate bar edibles in oatmeal, it’s the best. 

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Marijuana Use by Adults and Seniors on the Rise

According to a recent report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, today's parents are smoking weed more often than their teenage kids do. Marijuana use among kids age 12 to 17 has fallen, while marijuana use among adults age 35 and up has sharply increased. With marijuana dispensary deals offering deals on ounces of buds, coupons for edibles, deals on concentrates, daily specials on marijuana and other incentives, older adults with more spending power have become one of the largest and most influential groups of marijuana consumers.

Since 2002, marijuana use by middle-aged adults in the 45 to 54 age group increased by 48%, while marijuana use by adults age 35 to 44 rose by 43%. These are pretty sharp increases, but they're nothing compared to the numbers of even older adults who are now using marijuana regularly. Marijuana use by seniors aged 65 and older increased by 333% over the past decade, while marijuana use by adults age 55 to 64 has increased by a whopping 455%. The one group who is using marijuana less often, however, is kids and teens. Only 7.4% of kids and teens age 12 to 17 reported that they use marijuana regularly, showing a 10% decrease in marijuana use compared to data collected ten years prior.

The report highlights the ways in which marijuana legalization is shaping our culture. In the “War on Drugs” era, more kids and teens were using marijuana. Now that parents and even grandparents are doing it, doctors are prescribing it, and national media outlets report on it daily, marijuana has lost much of the glamour it received from being something illicit and illegal, rebellious and “wrong” in the eyes of the parental units and society as a whole. Marijuana has become acceptable, recognized for its many potential benefits on both physical and mental health, as well as for its advantages over the far more dangerous and detrimental choice of alcohol for purposes of recreational relaxation. Opponents of marijuana legalization often tout their fears about legalization leading to increased marijuana use among youth, but the study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention proves these fears to be unfounded. It's a timeless truth that kids usually don't want to be like their parents, so if their parents are toking down, teens are less likely to see marijuana smoking as an appealing activity that's in any way cool or desirable. Stephen Colbert even did a skit about the phenomenon of parental marijuana use on a recent episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” The skit featured a very normal-looking, middle aged Minnesota couple chilling out at home on the sofa. They're obviously stoned, bong in hand. Their teenage son walks in and they quickly stash the bong behind the throwpillow. The son accuses his mom and dad in a resigned and annoyed sort of way if they're smoking marijuana yet again, then he makes a comment about he doesn't use marijuana himself, but instead snorts adderall like a normal person.

Ideas about marijuana use are definitely changing, and parents are finding new ways to talk to their kids about drugs and marijuana use more honestly and openly than ever. With marijuana's benefits as a medicine widely recognized by the scientific and medical community, and medical marijuana dispensaries and recreational marijuana dispensaries a common feature in many communities in states like Colorado, no longer can parents pretend to their children that marijuana use is something criminal or extremely detrimental or dangerous, especially when they are using it themselves to relieve insomnia, back pain, anxiety, just to unwind, or for a number of other valid and logical reasons. If we don't want our kids to use marijuana, it makes sense to talk about it as honestly as possible, being genuine about the positive as well as the negative aspects of pot smoking. When marijuana is unfairly demonized, kids who try it and discover its real-life effects are much more likely to distrust any warnings they've received about other drugs which actually do pose very serious risks. Legalization has forced a more honest and open dialogue regarding marijuana use, which in turn is leading to fewer kids overall using marijuana for recreational purposes.

Marijuana has matured, both in terms of its users and in terms of the marijuana industry itself. With all the medical and recreational marijuana dispensaries such as Livwell, Medicine Man Denver, and MMJ America, plus all the cultivation facilities, research institutes, seed banks and more, the marijuana industry has become big business. Paired with an increasingly older demographic of marijuana users, marijuana is no longer kids stuff. It's ironic that where the War on Drugs failed, marijuana legalization has apparently succeeded. Putting marijuana into the hands of parents and grandparents and other older adults has been the unexpected key to keeping it out of the hands of youth.

 

 

 

 

 

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