Once a struggling border town, today Trinidad, Colorado is enjoying the spoils of the green rush.

As a booming coal mining town, Trinidad reveled in its share of Wild West excitement. In its heyday, the legendary Doc Holliday owned a brothel there and the equally famous lawman, journalist, and professional gambler Bat Masterson was the city marshal. Jesse James and his brothers were frequent visitors.

But those days have since faded, and so had Trinidad. Its population of 30,000 shrank to just over 8,000 people and abandoned buildings stood as a reminder of the city it once was.

Then came the green rush.

The struggling city found salvation in the legalization of cannabis in Colorado. Beginning with only medical marijuana, Trinidad discovered that the legalization of marijuana didn’t bring with it the criminal element that some had feared.

When recreational use was legalized in Colorado, Trinidad jumped on board, opening its first shop in hopes of bolstering its nearly empty city coffers. They estimated they could bring in about $200,000 in tax revenue that first year; instead, they brought in nearly $900,000. The following year, it doubled.

They estimated they could bring in about $200,000 in tax revenue that first year; instead, they brought in nearly $900,000.

The transformation has only evolved each year; with its close proximity to the border, Trinidad has become a hotspot for out-of-state visitors from New Mexico and Texas. In 2017, it again more than doubled the previous year’s tax income, pulling in $2.9 million.

The welcome economic relief for this once-struggling town is reflected in the new growth and renovation of the city from the ground up. City officials have now pumped money into projects that previously were shelved due to lack of funding. From additions to the city’s fleet of vehicles and a new ladder truck for the firehouse to the redevelopment of more than 40 live-work spaces and a new animal shelter, signs of growth and progress have replaced the abandoned buildings.

Trinidad is now home to more than two dozen recreational marijuana shops, including a 30,000-square-foot warehouse for Coda Signature, which makes premium cannabis-infused edibles. The city is also thriving thanks to increased hotel and motel occupancy and from an uptick in traffic to local restaurants.

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Canada is always an exciting destination, full of fun excursions and scenic vistas. No matter what kind of traveler you are, there’s something for everyone, from thrillseekers to cultural sponges. Now that these friendly Canucks have legalized cannabis, however, planning a Canadian vacation is getting much more interesting.

From the West to the East Coast, Canada’s provinces have something unique to offer with the new ability to complement your experiences with cannabis consumption. Legalization is brand new, so locals are still working out some regulatory hurdles, but there’s still plenty of merriment to help you to elevate your next trip north.

Vancouver & Whistler

Nestled in the Pacific Northwest, Vancouver is already often referred to as Vansterdam or New Amsterdam. In fact, there’s even a cafe with the latter name featuring a vapor lounge that allows patrons to smoke cannabis while they sip their coffee.

As the city transitions to recreational marijuana sales and consumption, medical marijuana consumption is currently the easiest method. Alternative Med Tours provides cannabis tours of Vancouver starting at 99 CAD that all start with a trip to a doctor for authorization. These expert-attended, intimate tours allow a maximum of four people, include trips to two dispensaries, and end with a visit to local vapor lounge. Couples can book a more private tour that includes a pit stop at a photo-worthy landmark.

Whistler is much more restrictive than Vancouver and hitting the slopes under the influence is strongly discouraged.

If fresh mountain powder is calling your name, know that Whistler is much more restrictive than Vancouver and hitting the slopes under the influence is strongly discouraged.

Otherwise, as long as you’re not infringing on anyone else’s mountain air or resort policies, you’re free to enjoy your flower.

Whitehorse

Catching the Northern Lights is one of the best reasons to visit Canada and Whitehorse is one of the best places to do so. The area has a thriving Airbnb community, but nothing is quite as picturesque as this yurt.

Will you need to wear a jacket inside? Probably, but the wood stove will keep you much warmer than you might expect. The Mongolian yurt, perched within 21 acres of private land, sleeps up to five people and offers breathtaking views of the mountains and Crowley Lake. Smoking isn’t allowed, but this is the perfect place for a warming, lasting edible to help you connect with nature.

Toronto

Ontario is arguably the friendliest province when it comes to cannabis consumption and Toronto is an excellent case study to that effect. Like Vancouver, you can enjoy cannabis tours of the city, but you have a greater power of choice. The two main companies, CannaTours and Canadian Kush Tours offer extensive ranges of packages, stemming from cooking classes to spa experiences to limousine tours of vapor lounges.

In a city known for its food, an evergrowing trend has sparked in Toronto of coffee shops that are also dispensaries. From Cannabis and Coffee to Tokyo Smoke, the city is encouraging the growth of a new type of establishment that’s just begging you to do a coffee shop crawl.

Prince Edward Island

A tourist trap you never want to free yourself from, Prince Edward Island is a lovely summer getaway, but it can be stunning year-round. While other provinces grapple with where people can smoke marijuana, Prince Edward Island is allowing visitors to consume cannabis in its hotels, bed and breakfasts, and motels.

Of course, you should check with the establishment beforehand since they reserve the right to enforce their own policies, but local business owners seem ready to embrace the green tide.

The post Oh, Canada: a cannabis-inspired road trip appeared first on Flowertown.

Making friends as an adult can feel harder than finding parking at a Whole Foods on a weekend. Places like bars can be intimidating when it comes to meeting new people, and it’s often hard to gauge common interests and compatibility yelling over a loud game or music.

Additionally, with such a heavy emphasis placed on social media, it seems more now than ever that everyone is all at once alone and also living a better life than you. That’s compounded by the fact that loneliness is considered more of a health risk than obesity.

Regardless of current social climates, If you’re shy or just don’t to know how to break the ice, expanding your social circle can feel impossible

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

In fact, we’ve found several ways where you can explore new friendships while gaining personal fulfillment in areas of interest to yourself. Expand your comfort zone and your social circle at the same time.

1.   A local sports league

Whether it’s football or roller derby, there are all kinds of sports leagues for amateur enthusiasts. In addition to being a great way to be active and have fun, a local team can connect you with people you might not have met otherwise who, clearly, share a common interest.

With sports, you have to foster camaraderie and teamwork in order to perform well. That sense of bonding can easily lead to celebratory (or consolatory) drinks after games. It’s not too far before you’ve started building a social web, brought together through victory, defeat, sweat, and maybe even tears.

2. Volunteer work

In addition to helping people and organizations in need, volunteering can also build a sense of community. From the people you’re helping to your fellow volunteers, you’ll be exposed to a wide variety of people.

Volunteering is such an emotional way to spend your free time that it’s easy to pick up friendships. Because of the rawness of the work, your experiences might be difficult to explain to others who aren’t in the trenches with you, so you’ll actually be able to cultivate very deep friendships this way.

3. An improv class

Improv is a less physically intense way to put yourself out there. Depending on where you live and your comedic chops, it might be easier to take an improv class or audition for an established troupe.

Improv is all about “yes and,” so it’s a very open and vulnerable environment. You get to push your imagination to its limits and then go further based on other people’s perspectives. The hardest part is showing up, but once you’re there, all you really have to do is have fun and give others the space to the same.

While some of these suggestions inherently require participants to be social in order to do the activity (looking at you, improv), social situations themselves can be anxiety-inducing regardless of how fun it is.

In order to combat the social anxiety you may feel just by thinking about the prospect of meeting new people or being vulnerable, consider using cannabis beforehand to help loosen yourself up.

Cannabis is considered a fantastic way to eliminate social anxiety by soothing the nerves and calming the brain. So microdosing an edible or a vape pen beforehand should be able to give you the relief you need without feeling like you’re on another planet – a sensation that could actually induce more anxiety than what you’re already experiencing.

The post A three-step masterclass on how to make new friends appeared first on Flowertown.

Romance is in the air, but it could definitely do with some company. Cannabis goodies can improve your Valentine’s Day plans whether you’re just setting the mood or igniting a little extra passion.

Arouse by Dosist – CC BY

Cannabis in the clouds

If you and your significant other are staunch flower lovers there are two strains you should definitely consider: Skywalker and Atomic Northern Lights. These hybrids mix euphoria with a nice body high that doesn’t make you immobile.

For the more discreet, arouse by dosist offers our California readers a scintillating vaporizer pen. This THC-forward formula will have you cozying up to your partner in no time.

Queen Green by Kushed Candles – CC BY

Relaxing aromatherapy

Set the stage for your romantic tryst with a QueenGreen candle or two. Despite its name, this member of the Kushed Candles lineup is actually rather sweet with enough musky undertones to prevent it from being overbearing. The candle comes in a wide range of sizes, including some 6 oz gold travel tins — in case you’re hitting the road this Valentine’s day.

Cannabis Bouquet by Lowell Smokes – CC BY

A bouquet they’ll never forget

Send some green flowers this year with Lowell Farms’ cannabis bouquet. The arrangement features about an ounce worth of marijuana for a cool $400. Lowell Farms will only deliver within Los Angeles, but you can find out if they ship to a California dispensary near you!

Love CBD Bath Bomb by Kush Queen – CC BY

A tantalizing bubble bath

Whether you’re drawing a bath for your loved one or joining them for some bubbly footsie, you can’t go wrong with a bath bomb. The irreverent Kush Queen’s Love CBD Bath Bomb, which ships everywhere, is all about soaking up the mood. For a more intense effect, you can try out their 1:1 CBD to THC version at your local California dispensary.

Easy Cannabis Cookbook by Amazon – CC BY

A cannabis-infused dinner

Want to skip the busy restaurants where someone’s proposing every few minutes? Enjoy a nice night in with a cannabis-infused meal. “The Easy Cannabis Cookbook” by Cheri Sicard will walk you through the creation of sweet and savory edibles. Control the dose as you see fit, for a jovial culinary experience.

Dark Chocolate Bar by Satori Chocolates – CC BY

Some decadent chocolates

What’s Valentine’s Day without chocolate? Satori makes delicious milk and dark chocolate bars that are so easy to eat, you might forget that each square is 10 mg of THC (don’t forget that, please).

Awaken by Foria Wellness – CC BY

A sensual lubricant you’ll use past February

Foria’s Awaken lubricant is not only a hot cannabis product, it’s knocked some regular lubricants off some nightstands. It’s oil-based so it doesn’t play well with latex and should be used with silicone toys. Awaken only contains CBD, so it can be enjoyed by all, but its THC sister, Pleasure, is only available in California, Colorado, and Canada.

The post The best products for an uplifting Valentine’s Day appeared first on Flowertown.

Whether you are single or taken this holiday, Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to explore your sensuality. Here are five of our favorite cannabis products that will level up the romance and increase intimacy.

Sensuali-Tea by Kikoko – CC BY

Kikoko’s Sensuali-tea

Available in California.

Kikoko offers a variety of excellent cannabis-infused herbal teas for every occasion, but take one look at the reviews for Sensuali-Tea and it’s clear that this product is something special. Their organically sun-grown cannabis is blended with other natural aphrodisiacs and plant medicines like rose petals to relieve anxiety and cloves to increase blood circulation (aka enhance performance). An Organic Hibiscus Cardamom Rose Tea made for connection and intimacy, Sensuali-tea intensifies orgasms and promises “utterly heavenly sex.” For those curious, caffeine-free tea bags are sold in individual packets or in a tin of ten. Single this Valentine’s Day? Consider buying a few tins and hosting a Kikoko High Tea Party for other singles to mix and mingle.

The Passion Pen or Arouse Pen by Dosist

Available in California.

Dosist actually offers two different vape options for a night of intimacy. The Passion Pen delivers “a euphoric feeling designed to increase sensuality and heighten your sexual experience,” while their Arouse Pen is formulated to “help you feel aroused and enhance your excitement.” Both products are THC-dominant with small amounts of CBD to enhance the relaxing effects without getting lazy. While we’re not sure what the difference between the two really is, Dosist says it’s in the terpenes: the Passion Pen incorporates myrcene and limonene for a musky citrus flavor, while the Arouse Pen is primarily made up of linalool and farnesene for a spicy yet floral aroma. If you want to do your own comparison, skip the 200 dose pen and buy their 50 dose pen in both Passion and Arouse.

Passion by Dosist – CC BY

Passion

Arouse by Dosist – CC BY

Arouse

High Love by 1906 – CC BY

High Love

Available in Colorado.

This Colorado-based company mixes two well-known aphrodisiacs into one sexy chocolate bar

Incorporating everyone’s favorite strain, Blue Dream, into a medley of plant medicines catered to improving sexy time and infused into rich dark chocolate. The blend includes some lesser-known medicinal plants like “damiana to curb inhibition, Catuaba to increase sexual desire, theobromine for energy, Ashwagandha to reduce stress and boost libido, and Muira Puama, known as the ‘Viagra of the Amazon.’”

Quiver Sensual Pleasure Oil by Herba Buena – CC BY

Herba Buena Quiver Sensual Pleasure Oil

Available in California.

Top Chef’s Casey Thompson named Quiver “the best lube ever,” while SF Chronicle Green State calls it “the best intimacy oil” yet. Herba Buena promises heightened awareness, lubrication, and euphoria. Their special blend is formulated to “enhance arousal, extend orgasm, and ease menstrual cramps.” With hints of vanilla, cinnamon, and clove, this oil is not only great for the main event but romantic massages as well. Also, be warned: like all oil-based lubes, this product is not latex-condom safe.

Awaken by Foria Wellness – CC BY

Foria Awaken

Can be shipped anywhere.

Not in California or Colorado? Not to worry–the weed lube brand, Foria, has come up with a solution. Their new product, Awaken, is designed to deliver similar effects to their original THC-infused lube for women that don’t live in legalized states. With a rich mint and chocolate aroma, Awaken combines 8 natural aphrodisiacs with hemp-based CBD to heighten pleasure and ease discomfort. Like the lube above, this product is coconut oil-based and therefore does not work with latex.

The post Five products to get it on appeared first on Flowertown.

The holiday season is considered one of the most joyous times of the year. Yet for many, it’s a major cause of stress and anxiety. From finding the right Christmas gifts to dealing with holiday parties and out-of-town guests, the entire season can be emotionally and physically taxing. Now that you’ve gotten through it, reward yourself with these tips to decompress.

A hot cup of tea

Nothing is more relaxing than a hot cup of tea, except for a hot cup of cannabis-infused tea. The warm nectar helps soothe your body for an all-over relaxed feel. When you sip cannabis tea, your body gets an instant dose of THC and CBD. These cannabinoids have been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, pain, and inflammation among other health benefits.

When all of the shopping is done, food put away, and guests back in their own homes, curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and a hot cup of cannabis tea to feel all your stresses wash away.

Vaporizers for a good night’s sleep

Vaporizing cannabis is a great alternative to smoking. You get the positive effects without having to worry about carcinogens or other substances from the smoke. Additionally, you don’t have to worry about smells on your clothing if a few guests are still lingering past New Years (they’ll leave eventually, right?). If you stay up at night worrying about all of the things you need to do to regroup from the holidays, then vaporizing cannabis can help you get a good night’s sleep by helping you fall asleep and stay asleep.

A relaxing bath

Running around town to different stores to get gifts for the kids, a bottle of wine for your boss, and food for a dinner party really takes a toll on your body. Your body might feel achy and sore once the festivities are over and you have a chance to sit down for a minute. Dipping into a hot bath with bath bombs and soaps that contain THC help your entire body relax. Lotions, creams, and topical ointments rubbed on your sore muscles take away the aches and pains. Before you know it, you’ll be refreshed for the new year.

The post Cannabis-infused tips to decompress from holiday stress appeared first on Flowertown.