Cirrus Social Club Sets High Bar for Denver Cannabis Lounges

I’ve been a daily cannabis consumer for nearly a decade, but I’m not sure the “stoner” label applies anymore. These days, a few puffs is an end-of-day ritual in the comfort of my home. I hadn’t been baked in public in years until visiting Cirrus Social Club, a new cannabis lounge that opened on East Colfax earlier this month.

Needless to say, I was bracing myself a bit. The events I attended in my previous career in the cannabis industry had already confirmed I fell in the lightweight class (at least, among bona fide enthusiasts). Cirrus rolls out the red carpet for lower tolerances, though.

“It's all catered towards heavy consumers,” Cirrus founder Arend Richard says of the current cannabis hospitality scene. “Right now, if you go into most lounges, they expect you to know what you want and how you're gonna consume it. I thought that limited access for the majority. Our target demographic is the mainstream: people who like to go out and have experiences, people who want to spend time with the people they love on a Friday night.”

From a wide-ranging audience to its upscale atmosphere, Cirrus Social Club may have elevated the status quo for cannabis lounges in Denver. Here’s what you can expect when visiting:

I’ve been a daily cannabis consumer for nearly a decade, but I’m not sure the “stoner” label applies anymore. These days, a few puffs is an end-of-day ritual in the comfort of my home. I hadn’t been baked in public in years until visiting Cirrus Social Club, a new cannabis lounge that opened on East Colfax earlier this month.

Needless to say, I was bracing myself a bit. The events I attended in my previous career in the cannabis industry had already confirmed I fell in the lightweight class (at least, among bona fide enthusiasts). Cirrus rolls out the red carpet for lower tolerances, though.

“It's all catered towards heavy consumers,” Cirrus founder Arend Richard says of the current cannabis hospitality scene. “Right now, if you go into most lounges, they expect you to know what you want and how you're gonna consume it. I thought that limited access for the majority. Our target demographic is the mainstream: people who like to go out and have experiences, people who want to spend time with the people they love on a Friday night.”

From a wide-ranging audience to its upscale atmosphere, Cirrus Social Club may have elevated the status quo for cannabis lounges in Denver. Here’s what you can expect when visiting:

“A lot of people have used the word ‘luxury,’ but what I was really aiming for was beauty. When you're high, your pupils allow a little bit more light in; things are a little bit more bold and beautiful. I really wanted to create a space where your eyes would be entertained,” explains Richard.

While this is Denver and you don’t have to dress for the occasion, I felt a bit too casual in a sweater and jeans — especially next to other patrons wearing cocktail dresses and suit jackets. Granted, there was a range of styles present, some even more relaxed than my attire choice. There's no dress code at Cirrus, but I’d recommend at least a semi-dressy look to fit the vibe of this visually stunning space. You don't want to be high and self-conscious about what you're wearing.

Ganja Selection

Shortly after being checked in and seated at our white marble two-top, my husband and I were greeted by our “flight attendant,” Danielle. Sharply dressed and sociable, she began by inquiring about our cannabis tolerances on a scale of one through five. I responded conservatively with “2.5,” and was excited to learn that much of the cannabis selection suited my level.

“We don't want everyone, like, passed out, which is what I found when I went to Amsterdam last year. The majority of people in the lounges there were just so zooted that they were half-asleep,” recalls Richard, who’s also visited cannabis lounges throughout the United States. “We wanted to create an environment where people get uplifted and giggly, and could still walk out and feel good.”

It was, indeed, a giggly evening that started with a clear bag full of cannabis vapor. Using a Storz & Bickel Volcano vaporizer, I noticed some of the best qualities of PotZero’s Reba strain, a cross between Durban Poison and Fall ‘97. The single bag of inhalable vapor was $8.

Unlike other smoking devices, the Volcano delivered a consistently clean punch of candied citrus and spicy terpenes. Though technically intended for one, my husband and I split the bag and felt a bit hazy, but comfortable and eager to try more.

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