Denver’s first canna-spa, opening soon, brings marijuana and massages under one roof

Denver’s first cannabis spa is almost ready to start serving locals R&R – as in reefer and relaxation.

When it opens on Sept. 14, Pure Elevations Canna-Spa & Salon (185 S. Santa Fe Drive) will be among the city’s first public consumption spaces, where guests who book a massage or pedicure will be able to smoke weed onsite before or after their appointment. The business will sell marijuana products from a small dispensary counter in its salon for guests to consume on the outdoor patio, and it will also integrate topicals into its services and treatments. That means THC- and CBD-infused massages for anyone who wants to get extra chill.

Owner Rebecca Marroquin’s unique concept was inspired by her own experience using cannabis lotions to help with pain. In 2011, Marroquin was preparing to finish school and become a massage therapist when she was involved in a car crash that broke her neck. Four months of using infused topicals had her back on track to graduate.

Marroquin is now hoping to offer Denverites similarly therapeutic experiences and show there’s more to cannabis than simply getting high.

Pure Elevations features four rooms – three for singles and one for couples – where guests can get a massage or body scrub, a salon with manicure and pedicure stations, and an area for hair stylists specializing in African-American techniques like braiding and fashion coloring.

Additionally, the spa will serve coffee and pre-packaged snacks, and patrons can order food for delivery to enjoy alongside their marijuana products on the outdoor consumption patio.

“We’re just trying to get a good vibe in here,” Marroquin said.

The vibes may be on point now, but it’s been a long time coming. Marroquin originally hoped to open Pure Elevations in April, but construction plus the additional challenges of integrating marijuana into her business model delayed that timeline. She sold her previous massage studio and went all in on Pure Elevations – a process that’s been “fun, exciting, stressful, and been everything in between,” she said with emotion welling up in her eyes.

“We’re here now and we can’t give up,” Marroquin said. “It’s been an unbelievable dream I’ve had forever. To see it become reality is unbelievable.”

Because the canna-spa is a new concept, Marroquin plans to ramp up the number of available service appointments slowly. Customers who want to get on the books first can register for VIP access at pureelevations.com (use the password MyCannaSpa). Those folks will be invited to a launch party on Sept. 14 when they can check out the space, enjoy live music and bites from a food truck, and get hooked up with prizes and swag.

When guests first arrive at Pure Elevations Canna-Spa & Salon, they'll check in at the front desk, pictured here. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Once finished, this area will be the cannabis micro-dispensary, coffee bar, nail and hair salon. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Pure Elevations Canna-Spa & Salon features one pedicure station, one manicure table and two hair salon chairs. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

The Pure Elevations salon flanks a hallway that leads to massage rooms and the outdoor patio, where guests can smoke marijuana before or after their appointment. They can also order food delivery to enjoy al fresco. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

A large shower and comfortable massage tables in the couple’s massage room at Pure Elevations Canna-Spa & Salon. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Owner Rebecca Marroquin, left, and her general contractor Audrey Rauschkolb, right, open the garage style door to what will be an outdoor space for clients at Pure Elevations Canna-Spa & Salon. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

While guests cannot smoke marijuana inside at Pure Elevations Canna-Spa & Salon, they can on the outdoor patio. When it opens in September, the business will be one of Denver's first public consumption spaces. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

The outdoor consumption space at Pure Elevations Canna-Spa & Salon, pictured, will offer guests a place to consume marijuana before or after their appointment. Guests can also order food delivery and get coffee from inside the salon. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

The outdoor consumption space at Pure Elevations Canna-Spa & Salon, pictured, will offer guests a place to consume marijuana before or after their appointment. Guests can also order food delivery and get coffee from inside the salon. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

When guests first arrive at Pure Elevations Canna-Spa & Salon, they'll check in at the front desk, pictured here. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

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