Welcome to Denver—ground zero of the green rush. At the end of the first year of recreational cannabis sales in 2014, there were 147 licensed retail stores in Colorado. Cut to five years later and it’s hard to imagine that cannabis was once illegal here, with 529 licensed retail stores in the state (as of May 2018). The majority of our picks are the OGs of Denver’s medical marijuana dispensary scene, first opening their doors in 2009, and since expanding their cannabis offerings for patients and recreational consumers alike.
For visiting cannabis enthusiasts, a dispensary is always on the itinerary, but with an overwhelming number of options, it’s hard to know where to even start. And for all canna-curious newbies, finding a shop that employs a staff with expert-level knowledge is essential in navigating ever-growing menus of flower, edibles, topicals, concentrates, and accessories. Here are the 15 best recreational marijuana dispensaries in Denver that’ll make your time in the Mile High City even higher.
Photos by Katie Shapiro
Cannabis Station
LoDo
“Fill up on Diesel” at this funky former gas station turned downtown dispensary.
Located in the heart of downtown Denver in a former gas station adorned with graffiti art, it’s the perfect pitstop before catching a Rockies game at Coors Field or a night out on the town. Owned under the Rocky Mountain High umbrella with eight locations across the state, its flower is award-winning. In fact, they just took home a 2nd place trophy for “Best Colorado Sativa Flower” at the High Times U.S. Cannabis Cup in Denver.
Colorado Harvest Company
Multiple Locations
With a pair of industry bigwigs behind it all, the power of its flower speaks for itself.
Cannabiz pioneers, Tim