{"id":10616,"date":"2025-01-31T13:07:22","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T13:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/?p=6905581"},"modified":"2025-01-31T13:07:22","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T13:07:22","slug":"treat-yourself-to-marijuana-and-massages-at-denvers-cannabis-spa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/treat-yourself-to-marijuana-and-massages-at-denvers-cannabis-spa\/","title":{"rendered":"Treat yourself to marijuana and massages at Denver\u2019s cannabis spa"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/treat-yourself-to-marijuana-and-massages-at-denvers-cannabis-spa\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><div class=\"media_block\"><\/div>\n<p><em>Editor\u2019s note: This is part of The Know\u2019s series, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/tag\/staff-favorites\/\">Staff Favorites<\/a>. Each week, we offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We\u2019ll also let you in on some hidden gems.)<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Every year for our wedding anniversary, my husband and I celebrate by getting massages. But life was so busy in 2024 that we delayed our annual tradition by about six months. When we got around to it, we decided to treat ourselves to something extra special: cannabis-infused massages.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pureelevations.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pure Elevations Canna-Spa<\/a> in Denver is a first-of-its-kind concept in Colorado that specializes in reefer and relaxation. When people book appointments here, they have the choice of regular massage oil or oil infused with cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Additionally, the spa has a small dispensary counter that sells marijuana flower, joints, edibles and other products for guests to enjoy before and after their service.<\/p>\n<p>There are few things more soothing than popping a gummy and lying down for a 90-minute massage. Well, except for maybe the 120-minute session and hot stone massages that the canna-spa offers.<\/p>\n<p>Owner Rebecca Marroquin, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2024\/08\/22\/pure-elevations-canna-spa-denver-opening-marijuana-massage\/\">opened Pure Elevations<\/a> at 185 S. Santa Fe Dr. last fall, said the concept is unique not only in Colorado but across the country.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI spent hours scouring the internet and although California claims to have cannabis spas, they are CBD only without consumption,\u201d she said, meaning other spas don\u2019t allow guests to consume weed onsite. \u201cWe are the one and only, and I am trying to set that bar as high as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pure Elevations is what\u2019s technically known as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2022\/01\/30\/denver-businesses-seek-hospitality-licenses-to-let-patrons-smoke-weed\/\">marijuana hospitality establishment<\/a>, and it\u2019s one of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2023\/03\/01\/cannabis-experience-marijuana-bus-airport-rides-smoking-tours-denver\/\">just<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2023\/06\/06\/tetra-lounge-marijuana-hospitality-reopening-rino-arts-district\/\">a few<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2025\/01\/27\/cirrus-social-club-marijuana-hospitality-cannabis-club-denver-colfax-opening\/\">places<\/a> in Denver where people can legally spark up. The business is so novel, in fact, that Marroquin helped the city write the laws around it.<\/p>\n<p>Upon arrival, the canna-spa appears like other massage parlors. Guests check in at the front desk \u2013 where staff verifies IDs to ensure everyone is at least 21 years old \u2013 before they\u2019re escorted to the back of the building. The brief walk passes by four massage rooms, including one for couples, before reaching a quaint salon that offers hair and nail services.<\/p>\n<p>In one corner is a small dispensary counter where a budtender helps guests pick their preferred products, which incur an additional cost separate from massage services. Pure Elevations sells all the usual suspects, including bud, pre-rolled joints and edibles, but Marroquin is continually expanding the menu to offer new and innovative treats.<\/p>\n<p>For example, the spa offers \u201cterp tea,\u201d a hot beverage brewed using marijuana flower instead of tea leaves. Soon, Marroquin plans to launch \u201ccannabis cocktails\u201d developed in partnership with beverage company <a href=\"https:\/\/keefbrands.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Keef Brands<\/a>. (There\u2019s no booze in these cocktails, though, as the law prohibits the sale of alcohol at marijuana businesses.) Patrons can also purchase single-serve dabs of concentrate for $7.10. Pure Elevations provides all the smoking tools necessary.<\/p>\n<p>With products in hand, the next stop is the consumption patio, which is outfitted with firepits and a heated tent during the winter months. Additional offerings, such as espresso drinks, s\u2019mores kits and snack boxes, are designed to encourage people to stay a while.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6905667\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft size-article_inline_half\"><img class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/treat-yourself-to-marijuana-and-massages-at-denvers-cannabis-spa.jpg\" alt=\"When guests arrive at Pure Elevations Canna-Spa in Denver, they will have their IDs checked and then be escorted to a small salon with a dispensary counter. They can purchase marijuana and then smoke it on the consumption patio (behind the garage door) before their massage. (Provided by Iris MacKinnon Photography)\" width=\"6016\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/treat-yourself-to-marijuana-and-massages-at-denvers-cannabis-spa.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"6905667\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/treat-yourself-to-marijuana-and-massages-at-denvers-cannabis-spa.jpg 620w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/TDP-Z-cannaspa2-01.jpg?fit=310%2C9999px&amp;ssl=1 310w\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">When guests arrive at Pure Elevations Canna-Spa in Denver, they will have their IDs checked and then be escorted to a small salon with a dispensary counter. They can purchase marijuana and then smoke it on the consumption patio (behind the garage door) before their massage. (Provided by Iris MacKinnon Photography)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Marroquin recommends guests come 30 to 45 minutes before their appointment to enjoy all the amenities. They\u2019re also welcome to stay and hang out afterward, she said.<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019re in the right head space, it\u2019s time to go full chill mode. Pure Elevations offers massages with regular oil, but those who opt for an infused treatment buy a small bottle of Mary Jane\u2019s Medicinals oil at the dispensary counter alongside their other products. (Guests are permitted to take home whatever products remain after their visit, including the extra oil.)<\/p>\n<p>One important thing to note about cannabis-infused topicals is that they don\u2019t get you high. But that doesn\u2019t mean they don\u2019t have any effect, Marroquin said.<\/p>\n<p>Studies have shown that CBD offers therapeutic effects when applied to the skin, including <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC9210160\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reductions in pain and inflammation<\/a>. Topicals with both CBD and THC may enhance those benefits because of a concept called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/cannabis-101\/cannabis-entourage-effect-why-thc-and-cbd-only-medicines-arent-g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the entourage effect<\/a> \u2013 meaning cannabinoids are more effective when working together, versus when they are isolated from one another.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"related right\"> <\/aside>\n<p>Even though <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2023\/12\/31\/colorado-marijuana-10-years-history-legalization-industry-struggles\/\">marijuana was legalized for recreational use<\/a> more than a decade ago, Colorado first legalized medical marijuana well before that, in 2000. Marroquin sees Pure Elevations as an apt place to educate locals on its therapeutic benefits while also enabling folks to have a good time.<\/p>\n<p>Special events are one way she plans to achieve that. On Feb. 13, Pure Elevations will host a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pureelevations.com\/events\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Galentine\u2019s Day party<\/a>, featuring a blunt-rolling class, neck and shoulder massages, and hand scrubs. Attendees will also be treated to s\u2019mores with either Hershey\u2019s sober sweets or <a href=\"https:\/\/binske.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Binske<\/a>\u00a0THC chocolate, as well as the aforementioned cannabis \u201ccocktails.\u201d (Tickets cost $100.)<\/p>\n<p>Starting in March, Marroquin plans to offer free monthly cannabis classes at the spa to educate locals and introduce them to the space. Pure Elevations currently has wide availability for massages, whether you want to plan a relaxing date with your partner for Valentine\u2019s Day or #treatyourself as a single. Book an appointment at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pureelevations.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pureelevations.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/myaccount.denverpost.com\/dp\/preference\">Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"media_block\"><\/div>\n<p>Pure Elevations Canna-Spa in Denver is a first-of-its-kind concept in Colorado that specializes in reefer and relaxation. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5062,531,52,330,6811,376,7938,4995,77,5577,7816,6815,6886,6921,56,9,5019,6228,10751,1,3,18,7072,6923,61,1736],"tags":[5063,3105,2632,2908,6816,2954,7939,4996,2655,5580,7818,6820,6889,6922,2636,5022,6235,10752,2622,7073,6924],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10616"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10616"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10616\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}