5 of Colorado’s Best Edible Brands

If you’re looking to enjoy a high without the hassle of grinding flower and packing paper, edibles are an easier—and often tastier—alternative. Nowadays, you’ll find hundreds of brands offering a smorgasbord of food and beverage options, trendy cannabinoids that go beyond THC and CBD, and even new technologies that might raise an eyebrow (can edibles really be fast-acting?) on the shelves. Hell, even Mike Tyson has thrown his hat in the ring.

And if you’re looking for locally made edibles, you don’t have to look far. Since federal law prohibits the transport of cannabis products across state lines, every edible in Colorado is produced here. That’s cool in a locavore sense, but it also means that in tough markets—like Colorado, with its high taxes and regulatory limitations—businesses struggle. The Centennial State’s declining dispensary sales and new 2023 law limiting the sale of hemp-derived THC products has already driven popular brands Curaleaf and 1906 out of the market.

So if you want your favorite Colorado-made edibles to stay in Colorado, it might be worth putting your green where your mouth is. Here, five of our favorites.

Wana Brands

Given Colorado’s tough regulatory market, the longer an edibles brand sticks around, the more likely it’s worth exploring. Boulder-based Wana Brands has been in the industry since 2010—that’s before recreational marijuana was legalized here—and has since become one of the largest cannabis edibles companies in the world. And we mean the world; in March, Forbes reported that Wana will be the first American edibles brand to expand sales to Europe. And for the marijuana enthusiast, you’d be hard-pressed to find a wider selection than Wana’s (think: traditional indica gummies, solventless watermelon slushy chews, everything in between).

Dutch Girl Stroopwafels

Gummies, by far, make up the largest share of the edibles market, but not everyone wants a bite-size chew to get their high. Those looking for a more substantial sweet should look to Dutch Girl Stroopwafels, a product from Colorado-based Cannapunch Brands, which also sells cannabis-infused beverages and gummies. In each tin, you’ll find 10 delicious waffle sandwich cookies filled with gooey caramel, strawberry, or moonberry filling—and dosed with 10 milligrams of THC each. Pro tip: Pair your treat with a hot beverage to make it extra soft or top with a scoop of ice cream for a blissful dessert.

Ripple

Ripple’s flagship product is less of an edible and more of a drinkable. The water-soluble, flavor-free powder dissolves into your liquid—or food—of choice to provide a fast-acting high you’ll start to feel in about 15 minutes. Expect your good vibes to peak about an hour after consumption (when many other edibles are just starting to sink in). Looking for a simpler way to get stoned? Ripple’s Ripsticks are flavored powders you pour directly on your tongue—no mixing required.

TasteBudz

Since 2017, TasteBudz has prided itself on using high-quality cannabis extracts in its wide range of vapes and fruit-flavored, jewel-shaped gummies. If you’re already familiar with the different effects of THC and CBD, TasteBudz’s “C-Suite” edibles might open you up to some lesser-known cannabinoids that are only starting to make their way to dispensary shelves. For example, the Palisade peach gummies split their 10-milligram dosage into five milligrams of traditional THC and five milligrams of THCV, a similar compound that’s less psychoactive than THC and reported to increase energy and reduce appetite, making for a headier high with minimal munchies.

Olio

No gimmicks here. If you want a straightforward, powerful gummy that doesn’t taste like skunk spray, Olio makes the edibles for you. These vegan, gluten-free bites are made with solventless rosin, meaning they’re pure and potent, and fun flavors like pomegranate-limeade and passion fruit combine well with the light hashy taste that lingers on the tongue. Expect the 10-milligram Olios to start taking effect within half an hour and give you a mellow high perfect for a chill night in.