The cannabis industry has been pressuring the City of Denver to expand the hours that dispensaries are allowed to stay open; the current deadline is 7 p.m. (and many close at 6:45).
Until that changes, marijuana enthusiasts will have to look beyond city limits to find late-night bud, as surrounding municipalities have different rules and regulations. In some, like Littleton, dispensaries are not allowed at all. In others, dispensaries are allowed to stay open much later than in Denver. Here are six places where you can buy marijuana past 7 p.m. around the metro area.
1. Aurora
In 2016, Aurora passed a measure that allows dispensaries to stay open until 10 p.m. A new spot in the area, the newest location of Good Chemistry, has the latest hours of any local cannabis company: It closes at 9:45. Our other favorite Aurora dispensaries include Good Chemistry, Altitude the Dispensary, Lightshade, Euflora, Terrapin Care Station and Colorado Harvest Company, to name a few.
2. Black Hawk/Central City
While the dispensaries in Black Hawk are open Sunday through Thursday until 7 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays they remain open until 9 or 10 p.m., depending on the store — so plan your weekends accordingly. The 1859 dispensary, operated by Mindful, is a cool spot in this gambling town. We've been behind the scenes in Mindful's grow house, which supplies cannabis to all of its dispensaries across the metro area. Other dispensaries worth checking out in the area include Rocky Mountain Organics and Green Grass Wellness Center, which are open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
3. Edgewater
Along with having the best Thai restaurant in the city and a weird doll museum, Edgewater is home to six dispensaries that are allowed to operate from 9 a.m. to midnight. The late-night hours are the peak traffic hours for Northern Lights; other notable Edgewater pot shops include Native Roots, Green Dragon and Live Green.
Continue reading to find out three more places with late night dispensary hours in the Denver metro area.
4. Glendale
Glendale is the Vegas of Denver. Along with having some notable strip clubs (one of which has an adjunct bar that serves liquor until 4 a.m.) and a Target with a liquor store inside, Glendale is home to dispensaries that can stay open until midnight. The mayor of Glendale, Mike Dunafon, might have had something to do with these lax laws: He's married to the owner of the strip club Shotgun Willie's, as well as its neighboring dispensary, the Smoking Gun. Life Flower is another option in the Glendale ’hood, along with Nature's Best, Kind Love and Emerald Fields.
5. Lyons
For those who live north of Denver, Lyons is a good option for a dispensary open until 10 p.m. Headquarters dispensary boasts some amazing bud and a real "boutique" experience. The Bud Depot is a good option as well; its recreational dispensary is open until 9:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
6. Idaho Springs
Consider this small town off of Interstate 70 your one-stop pot shop before heading into the mountains. Notable places to visit include the Spring, owned by Strainwise. We also like the Kine Mine, which is open until 10 p.m., as well as a popular dispensary called Mountain Medicinals, which includes medical and recreational marijuana and a head shop on site.