Here in Colorado we have two prevalent features contributing to our state’s unique character: Pot and Pups.

Of the former, Colorado was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana in January 2014. This made it legal for adults over 21 to buy, consume and grow pot. By 2018, more than 1,000 pot dispensaries blanketed the state, giving a new meaning to John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High.”  By comparison, this is three-times the number of Starbucks.

Of the latter, Denver and Colorado frequently rank high on the lists of the most dog friendly cities and states due to the number of dog parks, doggie boutiques and the affordability to own a dog here. According to a 2018 American Veterinary Medical Association, pet ownership is highest in rural states, such as Idaho (58% of homes have dogs), Montana (52%) and Colorado coming in at #8 at 47% for our rural-mountain-dog-crazy urban state. I swear, everyone in Denver seems to have a dog.

What does this all mean?

Dispensaries need storefronts and dog owners need groomers, doggie day care and other canine-related enterprises. And the owners of all these pot shops and pet-related shops have to come up with names for all these. And it seems like these pup/pot purveyors enjoy quips and quibbles for their businesses title. However, as a wordsmith and consumer of one (ok, maybe sometimes both, but for medicinal use only) of such enterprises, I have to say, it’s hard to tell one from the other.

 I mean, let’s say you’re driving down Colfax Avenue (5 blocks west of my home). You can have a tattoo parlor, pot dispensary, gun shop, doggie day care , organic dry cleaner and Starbucks all within spitting distance. You see a storefront signage saying Buddy Boy. Do you go in to buy a THC/CBD blend or do you bring in Fido for a shampoo? It’s a dilemma!

So here, I have a quiz for you…. I will name the establishment (just the main title), and you guess…. (Pot or Pup)? Answers given at the end!

1.Sniff Shack. 2.The Kind Room 3. The Healing House 4. Dream Team 5. Pig N’ Whistle 6. Pikes Peak Caregivers 7. Zen Den 8. Canis Major 9. The Health Center 10. Uncle Dan’s 11. Mile High 12. Fox 13. Bubble N’ Trouble 14. Bgood 15. Kevin N’ Friends 16. Doctor’s Orders 17. Serene 18. 149 Body Shop 19. Best Day Ever 20. Buddy Boy 21. Friendly Forever 22. Wolf Pac 23. Gentle Loving Care 24. The Treehouse 25. Dingo’s 26. NuLeaf Naturals

Answers

1.Pup 2. Pot 3. Pot 4. Pup 5. Pot 6. Pot 7. Pup 8. Pup 9. Pot 10. Pup 11. Pup and Pot! 12. Pot 13. Pup 14. Pot 15. Pup 16. Pot 17. Pup 18. Pup 19. Pot 20. Pot 21. Pup 22. Pot 23. Pup 24. Pot 25. Pup 26. BOTH Extra points if you picked Pup…NuLeaf naturals makes CBD oils, including ones for dogs, cats and other animals!

So How’d You Do???

1-15 You’ve thought about getting a dog, but then realized you have to clean up after them; You ‘experimented’ with marijuana while in college

15-20 You have a cat let’s say, and after finding out your Mother is using CBD oils on her bad knee, decided it’s okay to maybe get a medical marijuana license.

20—26 You are a dog lover who spends more on his/her grooming than on your own haircuts and styling and don’t have any qualms about going into a pot shop. Congratulations!!

Also, as someone who appreciates a good pun, here are a few favorite pot/pup puns!

Urban Sophisticat; Laughing Grass; Woof N’ Boots;  Redeye Releaf; Sticky Buds; Taj Mutt Hal; Sniff Shack; Pawsitively Clean; Garden of the Paws; Garden of the Budz; Grateful Dogg; Doggie Pause; Sherlock Hound and the now closed Vanity Fur. For fun, try googling Vanity Fur Denver and guess what you see!!!.