22 JANUARY 16-22, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | REAL ESTATE | RENTALS | HEALTH WELLNESS | SERVICES | EMPLOYMENT | ADULT | MUSIC | CLASSIFIED | CANNABIS CALENDAR There’s loads of cannabis-friendly fun to be had this week in Denver, from hip-hop bat- tles and arts and crafts sessions to weekly events at licensed pot lounges. But before February ends, be sure to check out the Cannabis Experience’s new Denver Black History Tour, which takes riders on a fun and informative (and cannabis-friendly!) ride through the Five Points neighborhood and beyond. Learn more about these events and others around Denver below, and see the full version at westword.com/marijuana. Roots, Rhythm, & Reefer: Denver’s Black History Cannabis Tour Daily rides available for booking The Cannabis Experience 2590 Walnut Street Get educated about Denver’s long and rich connection to Black culture during the city’s fi rst cannabis-friendly Black history tour. As you visit and learn about local historical landmarks and stories — such as why Five Points was long known as the “Harlem of the West” — the driver will stop at dispen- saries, as well, allowing you to consume flower, hash or edibles during the tour. Learn more and book tickets ($50, 21+) at mycannabistours.com. Cannoisseur Cypher Thursdays, 9 p.m. High Society Dispo & Lounge 7667 Washington Street Thursdays are now open-mic and beats night at High Society, the Denver area’s only licensed cannabis bar. Spit a few bars, smoke a few bowls and meet other musicians. En- try (21+) is free, but all cannabis use must be done with products purchased at High Society. Call the venue at 303-993-5760 to learn more. Manifest High Vibes: Puff, Plan & Prosper Wednesday, January 15, 5 to 7 p.m. The Coffee Joint 1130 Yuma Court Have high aspirations for 2025? Outline those goals and dreams over a few dabs at the Coffee Joint’s Puff, Plan & Prosper event. Set a calendar, make an agenda or identify moves to be made this year in an artsy setting with other motivated mari- juana lovers. Entry (21+) is $5, or free if you buy something from the dispensary next door; learn more by calling the Coffee Joint at 720-583-4657. Chronic Crafts Saturday, January 18, 7 to 10 p.m. High Society Dispo & Lounge 7667 Washington Street It’s cannabis-friendly arts and crafts time at the Denver area’s only licensed cannabis bar, High Society Dispo & Lounge. During this session, you’ll get to choose from fi ve different crafts projects, including custom roach clips, rolling trays, candles, stash jars and more. Sign up to attend (21+) at tinyurl.com/Chronic- Crafts011825, and learn more at highsociety. bar. Only products purchased at the bar may be consumed at High Society. ■ A S K A S T O N E R BY HERBERT FUEGO Dear Stoner: Is legal weed safer than weed from the black market? I know the legal stuff is supposed to be tested, but I’m still not convinced that it’s better than what my old dealer sold. Ravy Dear Ravy: Theoretically, legal cannabis grown in a regulated environment with post- harvest testing should be safer to consume than something grown without oversight. And in a lot of cases, that’s true. But as some- one who’s covered legal cannabis for over ten years, I’ve seen plenty of licensed grow- ing operations with mold, mites and other questionable traits. We’ve posted photos and videos of them in the past, and if there’s one, there are usually more. On the fl ip side, that doesn’t mean that all black-market cannabis is grown with love and pure intentions. Most weed is grown to make money, and ethics rarely generate more money on the black market. Legal or not, the quality and trust you have in your cannabis is tied to what you know about the producer. Have you seen the garden? Do you know the grower? Have they been subject to a recall before? These are all things to consider next time. Dear Stoner: I just discovered how great it is to smoke bowls outside on winter nights. I toke up in the snow and cold and come into a warm, snuggly home. What do you think is the best weather or season for smoking weed? Sammie Shogun Dear Sammie: While this all comes down to preferences, there are some objective dif- ferences in weed-smoking weather. Colder temperatures tend to help hide the smell of weed smoke, while warmer weather involves less clothing to soak up the aroma. Whatever the temp, most cannabis users will quickly tell you that wind is the worst. I’ve wasted hours trying to block the wind to roast a bone or light bowls. Some people like to burn one in the sum- mer on the beach, or surrounded by fresh mountain air. Others like to toke by the fi re- place as snow falls outside. And then there are people like me, whose favorite season for smoking pot is the one we’re currently in. If I had to choose, though, fi rst place would go to a joint in the park on a spring day in the low ’80s, closely followed by a mid-morning bong rip on a crisp fall morning. Cannabis really does make everything better, doesn’t it? Send questions to [email protected]. CLICK it! ®
