DENVER – On the heels of the biggest marijuana celebration of the year, a new app from a local developer is getting a lot of attention.
The free app is called “High There” and gives users a way to connect through a common interest in cannabis.
Even though marijuana is becoming legal in more and more places, for some people it is still a taboo subject. Todd Mitchem said that can make it tough for cannabis users, especially when it comes to dating.
“When you live in a state where cannabis is legal, whether it’s medical or recreational, you would think that meeting someone else who likes cannabis would be easy. But it’s actually not as simple as you think,” Mitchem said.
That sparked the idea for High There.
“We were sitting around talking about what does the culture need,” Mitchem said. “What is the problem we have to solve? And the problem is connectivity.”
The app works a lot like Tinder. It asks you about yourself, then connects you with similar people in your area.
Developers say it is not just designed for love, but as a place where people can talk about marijuana. Mitchem said many medical marijuana patients use it to foster friendships when they cannot relate to family or friends at home who do not use pot.
Critics worry with a digital platform so focused on weed, some users could abuse the app, using it to illegally deal the substance.
Developers say that there are inherent risks with any social media platform. High There does have guidelines to help weed out potentially harmful users. Profiles are not allowed to contain photos of marijuana and users can report others for inappropriate behavior and activity.