Denver Maple

Attention, nature lovers: in case there weren’t already enough reasons to love Denver, the mile-high city now boasts one more full-bodied and potent cannabis strain. Devised by local Ballpark Dispensary, Denver Maple is an indica of unknown parentage. What’s clear, though, is that this bud offers mind-bending effects and thorough relaxation. Denver Maple even won the title of 3rd Best Medical Indica in the city’s 2014 High Times Cannabis Cup. The strain’s THC content has been measured at between 15% and 23%.

Denver Maple’s flowers stand out with a relatively large size and chunky formation. The buds taper down from a broad base at the stem to a pointed tip, giving them an overall spade-like shape. The tightly-curling leaves are a yellowish green and are wound through with curly orange pistils. Finally, sticky and dewy-looking trichomes cover all inner and outer nooks and crannies of these dense flowers and make them very hard to break up without the help of a good grinder.

As its name suggests, Denver Maple can carry a sweet, maple-like flavor, although its full aromatic profile can vary between phenotypes. The strain gives off some earthy, woodsy scents with hints of pine and maple. A second inspection may pick up on some sweet floral accents. Grinding up or breaking open the flowers yields some sour, citrusy notes as well. When Denver Maple’s flowers are combusted in a pipe or a joint, they burn with a smooth and very palatable smoke. This smoke has a subtly sweet maple flavor on the exhale.

Denver Maple’s high comes with a bit of a delay and may not be apparent until 10 to 15 minutes after its smoke is ingested. Early effects include a light headed sensation with some possible twitching in the temples and lower forehead; some smokers also describe an increase in salivation. These odd tics soon give way to a full-bodied relaxation in which the limbs feel heavy or almost numb. Smokers who may have been out and about may find themselves wanting to sit down and take a load off. Similarly, those who are engaged in demanding mental tasks might need to put their work aside temporarily as Denver Maple eases them into a trance-like state of meditation. Indeed, this is one bud that’s better suited to lazy contemplation than to intense analysis and productivity.

The strain isn’t entirely without mental effects, though. Denver Maple can lead to some giddiness and animation, making it a good way to enhance conversation or camaraderie in social situations. It may also open up creative avenues for those working on artistic projects like crafting brainstorming sessions. Some mildly psychedelic sensory distortions may also make for some enjoyable passive media consumption, like turning on an atmospheric playlist or a visually rich movie. Because of its mostly laidback, sleepy vibes, Denver Maple is recommended for consumption during the evening — or at least during a day when you don’t have a busy agenda to stick to.

Denver Maple’s seductive relaxation is medically as well as recreationally appealing. The strain may temporarily distract from symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, and even PTSD. It can also soothe physical pain, whether it’s temporary, as due to injury, or chronic, as due to conditions like fibromyalgia. Anti-inflammatory properties, meanwhile, can address lesser discomforts like headaches and cramps. Denver Maple can also be a potent appetite stimulant and, in the right set and setting, an effective remedy for insomnia. Because its use is not frequently associated with overly cerebral, paranoid states of mind, the strain is a good option for patients who are prone to panic or who have a low THC tolerance.

Unfortunately for home cultivators, Ballpark Dispensary has not yet made seeds of Denver Maple available for sale online. As such, those looking to grow the strain should obtain clippings from mature, healthy plants of the strain in order to foster “clones.” These clones should first be nurtured indoors; they can then be vegetated indoors or outdoors in a hot, semi-humid climate. The strain’s indica-typical flowers suggest that its plants grow short and bushy and should be occasionally pruned of light-block fan leaves. The strain flowers within 8 to 9 weeks when grown indoors.

Although somewhat difficult to find outside of Colorado, Denver Maple is a dynamite strain and a must-try for indica fans. It’s just the thing for kicking back after a long day or week of work.