Queer Holiday: The LGBTQ Shopping Guide

Everything you need, want, and desire

This holiday season, it’s time to shop local! From your friendly, neighborhood cannabis shop to your local candle makers and artisans, don’t miss this list of vendors you absolutely must snag some gifts from. 

1906 Genius Drops

The 1906 Genius Drops are the perfect gift for the gay-mer in your life! Featuring a combination of rhodiola and bacopa for brain power along with the energy stack of caffeine, L-theanine, galangal, and theobromine plus a micro-dose of 2.5 mg THC/CBD, the Drops will help you level up like never before. Whether they’re stocking stuffers for the multi-tasker who goes and goes or the gay-mer who fuels up for play, these are a must-have.

Crafthouse Cocktails

Craving a delicious drink? Not wanting to play mixologist? Crafthouse Cocktails has the solution for you. They provide pre-made cocktails using only the finest of ingredients, crafted by World Champion Bartender and Crafthouse co-founder Charles Joly. I tried the spicy margarita and was oh-so-excited to not have to worry about having a perfect-tasting drink every single time. Not only did it save me time when my friends came over (the cocktails come in single-serving cans and party boxes), but my friends all remarked at just how delicious the drinks were, and bonus: they provide an ample kick with every sip. visit crafthousecocktails.com to find out where you can purchase your next favorite cocktail.

Terrapin Prerolls

Don’t leave home without your pack of trusty Terrapin pre-rolls! These small-but-mighty joints pack a serious punch, and though they aren’t the giant cones, they keep their shape and last all the way through for a cohesive smoking experience. 

Connect for Health Colorado

Give yourself the gift of health insurance! Connect for Health Colorado is the state’s official health insurance marketplace. It is the only place Coloradans can sign up for a private health insurance plan and apply for financial help to lower the cost. Due to the American Rescue Plan, there is more financial help available than ever before. If you do not get health insurance from your job, Connect for Health Colorado is for you! Open Enrollment is now through January 15, 2022. Visit ConnectForHealthCO.com today, and click on “WE CAN HELP” to find free help enrolling today.

Select Elite Live

If you’re looking for a luxe live resin experience, look no further than Select Elite Live: Enhanced Live Resin, infused with freshly harvested, live-resin terpenes. Every concentrate enthusiast will love the potency along with the sleek style and design. The combination results in high-quality, high-potency oil with a wide variety of strain-specific flavor and effects—so sativas feel more stimulating and indicas more relaxed. Indica or sativa lovers can appreciate the Kush Master strain of this smooth, live-resin cartridge. It offers minimal scent with all the flavors of traditional flower. Whether for yourself or someone else, this is a high-tech concentrate gift perfect for plenty of vape sessions in the cold winter months.

Mooselabs MouthPeace

Smoke sessions have changed since the pandemic came into play. The usual comradery of smoke sessions with a group of friends has long gone. But, thanks to Moose Labs, we can sesh responsibly with their line of MouthPeaces! Each MouthPeace comes with its own custom-fit filter that uses activated carbon filter to provide a safer and cleaner smoking experience that’s free from germs, resin, and tar. The Original MouthPeace is used for bongs and dab rigs, while the MouthPeace Mini is used for joints, blunts, pre-rolls, and vape pens. A gift for stoners of all kinds, whether alone or with others. 

Aktiv

Hygge is a Scandinavian term that embodies the concept of relaxation, and Aktiv has enough stylish and functional pieces that their name might as well be a synonym for it. As I sat nestled on the couch in their RAW joggers and Morel full zip hood, drinking my cup of tea, and watching horror movies, I almost felt like I was wearing a second skin. I will 1,000 percent be buying from Aktiv in the future so I can really get my hygge on. Find them online at aktivstyle.com.

The Clear Concentrates

You might be familiar with The Clear Concentrates vape cartridges, but this holiday season, consider mixing it up and adding in their wax-infused pre-rolls. While delivering all the potency, purity, and flavor of their concentrates these pre-rolls are perfect for a snowy night in. Spending time with relatives or friends and want to take the discreet route? The Reserve disposable vape cartridges are a smooth alternative. Pop into your local dispensary for a gift that keeps on giving. 

Harlem of the West

Have a hookah lover in your life? Try Harlem of the West’s very own herbal shisha. In fact, the owners themselves worked to test and provide a nicotine- and tobacco-free formula which is not common in the traditional hookah world. Their shishaologists capture the essence of the past and the aspirations for the future in each blend. They have one- or three-pack options available and offer exclusive signature blends of nicotine- and tobacco-free herbal shisha.

Iconi

All too often, I end up with activewear that’s not made to be … well … active in. Iconi stuck out to me as different. When I work out, I work out hard, and Iconi’s iconic pocket shorts and “Level Up” tee held up to the task of all of my jumping, squatting, pulling, and twisting. As a plus, when I purchase my next workout shirt from them, I can feel good that my money will be going somewhere great, as 10 percent of Iconi’s profits are donated to nonprofits. Visit iconileggings.com so that you, too,  can buy activewear that has a purpose. 

Wana Optimals

Need a gift to start the New Year off right? Try Wana Optimals, a new line of cannabis-powered wellness solutions from one of North America’s leading edibles companies, Wana Brands. Made with advanced fast-acting technology, Fast Asleep Gummies deliver a custom blend of sleep-promoting cannabinoids, terpenes, and melatonin in just five to 15 minutes! And daily, non-intoxicating Fit Gummies harness the rare cannabinoid THC-V to curb cravings and reset eating habits. Visit wanabrands.com/optimals to optimize your gift-giving game! 

Dry Land Distillers

Dry Land Distillers has some wonderful choices, even more so than your typical distillers. These two bold options, Colorado Antero Wheat Whiskey and Dry Land Distillers’ Cactus Spirit, are delicious and leave you wanting more. Even though I’m a major fan of whiskey, I found myself loving the Cactus with a smokey, vegetal sweetness reminiscent of tequila! Both of these are great in a mixed drink or, if you prefer, they can also be tasty shots. Dry Land offers whiskey, gin, and rum, and don’t forget about their mezcal-style Cactus Spirit. No matter what spirit tickles your fancy, Dry Land always brings their a-game.

Golden Leaf Botanicals

Golden Leaf Botanicals is Colorado’s top quality kratom dispensary. One of their wonderful products is Snow Cap, and it can really add a pep in your step. Make sure you only take the amount that works best for you. Snow Cap provides a calming sensation that really puts your mind at ease. All of their products offer the potential of holistic living. The Snow Caps aren’t too big and are easy to swallow. Make sure you give them at least 20 to 30 minutes to kick in. It’s also suggested to take the capsules with a tasty juice like pineapple or orange. Golden Leaf never sells your experience short.

Billion Dollar Art Gallery

Not everyone can make it to the museum these days—You may not have the money or care to deal with the lines. A perfect way to bring all that beautiful art into your very own living room is with the Billion Dollar Art Gallery USB! You can turn your very own TV into a work of art, or, in fact, many works of art, thanks to this wonderful USB drive! The collective art that is displayed is breathtaking. This is the perfect gift for any art lover, and it’s so beautiful it’s almost like you’re seeing the work in person.