Weedist Destinations: Crested Butte, CO

Now that Amendment 64 has passed in Colorado, there are plenty of opportunities for cannatourism and the exploration of the state’s cool cities and ski towns. Colorado squashes the image of the lazy, anti-social stoner, because the area is populated with daily tokers who are physically active and take part in many outdoor and social activities. One of the coolest places in Colorado for glorified cannatourism is Crested Butte, a small former coal mining town.

A four-hour scenic drive from Denver, Crested Butte offers a cannabis-friendly and physically active lifestyle that includes skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and mountain biking. While the people are friendly and the weather is great for activities year-round, the dispensaries in Crested Butte are lacking.

I had the pleasure of visiting Crested Butte for two days around the end of August. The days were already fairly cool and the nights had a measurable chill in the air. There were multiple rows of cute little houses that were small but quaint. Each row of houses had its own personality and charm. The nearby neighbors were of all ages from twenties to sixties, and everyone seemed content. This is what I loved about Crested Butte- the feeling that life was simple, fun, and relaxed.

You would think that  a ski town filled with a bunch of stoners would have a few kick-ass dispensaries in the area, but this is not the case. There are three dispensaries listed online for Crested Butte, but only one has a website with a current menu. I visited Acme Dispensary last August, and I was extremely disappointed in their strain selection of four choices. I purchased a gram of their Papaya strain, and the bud was decent enough for the price. Their current menu is better, so there is hope yet for Acme.

There are many miles of cross-country skiing trails in the area that are well-groomed, and back country skiing in the surrounding mountains of Crested Butte is said to the best in Colorado. The area also claims to be one of the original locations where mountain biking became popular. In the summer, you can enjoy backpacking, rock climbing, fishing, whitewater rafting, and kayaking to name just a few activities.

Crested Butte hosts a number of unique cultural and art festivals year-round, and there are many skiing competitions and bike races that take place. The small town has a number of dining options, and I particularly enjoyed getting coffee at charming Camp 4 Coffee and eating an awesome breakfast at Paradise Cafe.

If you’re looking to visit or even move to  a chill place in Colorado where cannatourism is flourishing, Crested Butte is a great toking town with a lot to offer except an acceptable selection of dispensaries.

Check out other posts from our Weedist Destinations series!