The first. Trailblazers. Pioneers. Ground zero of the green rush. These were all praises sung for the state of Colorado when, 12 years ago, it passed Amendment 64 to legalize the use of recreational marijuana.

Now in 2024, a once nascent, promising industry is struggling. While the DEA’s recent reclassification of marijuana as a less restrictive Schedule III drug is expected to invigorate cannabis businesses, other policies still stymie their growth. And the most puzzling piece for both businesses and consumers remains that, unlike other states, Colorado still prohibits the public consumption of cannabis.

“It shouldn’t have taken this long to create a framework [for consuming cannabis in licensed lounge spaces]. It seems that both regulators and the public felt that allowing personal consumption was sufficient, not seeing the need for public spaces, whereas consumers recognized this need almost immediately,” says Shannon Donnelly, professor of cannabis at the School of Hospitality at Metropolitan State University of Denver and the founder of the Center for Social Equity Support, which strives to level the playing field for underrepresented communities in the Denver cannabis market. “We are falling behind newer markets, with both New York and California allowing cannabis to be smoked wherever cigarettes can be consumed.”

One particular path that’s ripe for growth is venues where customers can smoke and dine at the same time. According to spokesperson Heather Draper, Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) has received 27 applications for hospitality businesses (i.e., lounges where you can either smoke your own weed or purchase weed to smoke) in the past two years, but only seven of these have been approved– the majority of which are not yet operational (like Cirrus Social Club set to open in October).

Despite the historical disconnect between local and state governments on marijuana regulations, even Governor Polis is apparently on board. “Governor Polis is proud that Colorado is known as a national leader in the cannabis industry, and also for our thriving culinary and restaurant scene. It makes perfect sense that these two things would come together to create a unique experience for adults who want to partake,” says press secretary Shelby Wieman.

“I hope to see poly-consumption venues that allow both cannabis and alcohol to normalize consumption just like alcohol, which Amendment 64 promised. When visiting Barcelona in 2023, I experienced a thriving scene with beautiful spaces where one could choose their vice, whether food, drink, or smoking,” Donnelly says. “I hope to see this in Colorado within the next five years, but there is much work to be done.”

For those of us who just want to celebrate the virtues of the plant, go out with friends to consume together outside of our living rooms, and meet new, like-minded community members, not all hope is lost. Amid the ongoing challenges, there are plenty of pioneers who have stayed the course and continue to set the stage for cannabis culinary and social experiences in Colorado and beyond. From multi-course cannabis pairing dinners to an art-forward lounge to a stoner-meets-foodie podcast, here’s who to know for the best (and legal) events on the culinary cannabis calendar.

Cultivating Spirits

Est. 2014
Marking his 10th year running one of the first companies in the country to offer legal cannabis pairing dinners to the public, Cultivating Spirits founder Philip Wolf reflects, “I can’t believe we persevered through all the lows of the cannabis industry to still be standing in Colorado, also expanding to Los Angeles and Las Vegas.” Working with a curated roster of guest chefs, Cultivating Spirits’ signature event is a three-course culinary experience with Wolf as cannabis sommelier, pairing each dish with a specific strain. Private bookings are available across the state with a four-guest minimum and start at $135 per person. “This connection allows me to guide people within the culinary platform to very enriching places. I love having the opportunity to change my client relationships with cannabis to be more intentional,” Wolf says.

PopCultivate

Cannabis chef Chris Yang
Cannabis chef Chris Yang. Courtesy of Pop Cultivate

Est. 2016
Los Angeles–based PopCultivate moved to Denver earlier this year and just wrapped its debut event series in partnership with the Coffee Joint, a licensed consumption lounge next door to Yuma Dispensary in Lincoln Park. Founder and chemist-turned-cannabis-chef Chris Yang shares, “It’s taken some time and research to understand how to comply with the MED, but I’m proud to say we are fully compliant. My challenges mostly were around adjusting the meal to what is allowed—I had to change my concept to a cannabis pairing experience instead of infused dishes, which is not yet approved.” Reservations for Yang’s pop-up Cannabis Gastropub are available on the second and fourth Friday of every month and are $60 per person; he’s also introducing a craft cocktail menu in partnership with Ripple and a happy hour event series this fall.

Tetra

A Tetra event.
A Tetra event. Photo courtesy of Julian Donaldson

Est. 2018
After making headlines for opening the city’s first approved marijuana hospitality lounge off 30th and Walnut streets, owner DeWayne Benjamin has faced one of the tougher fights to stay in business. Since initially operating Tetra as a private, members-only consumption club in RiNo, it was not until he received the coveted public license at the end of 2021 that all his problems started. Dealing with legislative changes, pandemic-related shutdowns, and $20,000 in MED fines after inadvertently hosting an unsanctioned event, Tetra reopened to the public in May and is already on its way to obtaining one of the few indoor-use permits. Next, Benjamin hopes to get a separate license to sell cannabis on-site, which will enhance Tetra’s packed programming including Chronic Karaoke, Terps & Tacos Industry Night, Weedflix & Chill Wednesdays, and Ladies Night Smoke Sessions. A day ticket for entry into the industrial venue with a spacious and smoke-friendly backyard is $20 (monthly and yearly passes are also available). He adds, “We have to preserve Colorado’s reputation as the mecca of cannabis and what so many of us have built. There is a huge revenue opportunity for cannabis tourism all over the state and Tetra has always been one of the safest social environments to welcome the community and people visiting from all over the world who share a common interest.”

Mason Jar Event Group

Mason Jar Events Founder Kendall Norris
Mason Jar Events founder Kendall Norris. Photo courtesy of Mason Jar Events

Est. 2018
For Mason Jar Events founder Kendall Norris, food, wine, weed, and wellness are the best things in life—all of which she brings together at her seasonal, always sold-out events around Boulder. Reflecting on her recent 150-person Sound on the Farm event, Norris shares, “My favorite moment was during the sunset silent walking meditation as we listened to the sounds of the bird orchestra. The weather was perfect, and the event was just dreamy.” Watch this space for upcoming event announcements after she returns from a summer holiday in Eastern Europe, where she’s gaining inspiration for her next event.

Stoned Appetit

Stoned Appétit host Kip Wilson (left) with cohost Chris Byard and Comida owner Rayme Rosello.
Stoned Appétit host Kip Wilson (left) with cohost Chris Byard and Comida owner Rayme Rosello. Photo courtesy of Kip Wilson

Est. 2019
Kip Wilson and Chris Byard are Colorado’s two highest hosts on their hit podcast with a cult following. Now in its sixth season, “Stoned Appetit” covers food, booze, weed, and live music, but due to restrictions and censorship against any cannabis-related posts on most social media platforms, it has a renewed focus on the Denver restaurant scene and broader culinary landscape. Wilson explains, “Because the cannabis industry seems to be giving us roadblocks at every turn and keeping us all from succeeding in growing our businesses, we’ve started doing more interviews with top chefs and small business owners. We’re also working with mainstream events like the Big Eat, Denver Food & Wine Festival, and the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen.” Also producing new content on biodynamic agriculture and regenerative farming, the duo is ready and waiting to produce their own cannabis consumption events as soon as the regulations change.

Groovy Gravy

Groovy Gravy founder Stephen Woolf.
Groovy Gravy founder Stephen Woolf. Photo courtesy of Groovy Gravy

Est. 2020
As a members-only collective that combines food, art, music, cannabis, and culture, Groovy Gravy’s uber-exclusive events have included supper club pop-ups, a cocktail party in the historic D&F Clock Tower, and the annual Secret Stash street fair in RiNo. Founder and cannabis industry veteran Stephen Woolf is known for helping set the standard for premier events during the dawn of legalization a decade ago and believes that Denver has “barely scratched the surface of what he knew to be true.” Woolf says, “There’s rich culture, refined taste, and endless avenues to be explored in cannabis. My vision is to flip the perception of this industry on its head through experiences that open minds and make new connections.”