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America’s legal-weed green rush is in full swing. As of March 2021, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has passed cannabis legislation making the Big Apple the 16th state in the country to make adult cannabis use legal. While the jury is still out on whether this will inspire President Joe Biden to make America green again across the board, the new about New York is exciting to say the least. Outside of politics, U.S. residents support marijuana law reform more than ever before. A new Gallup poll found 68% national support for legalization, with 420-friendly attitudes now crossing over into every age group, gender, religion, and political affiliation.
With the addition of five new state-specific pot programs in 2020’s general election, South Dakota, Montana, New Jersey, and more will be able to spark up without fear of government retribution. Because those newly legal states still haven’t written rules and regulations for their local industries, it will take some time before you can treat Sioux City like Amsterdam. Still, there are plenty of places you can go to smoke in the meantime?
While some states allow you to carry up to one ounce of marijuana on you, it is still illegal to smoke up or consume in public, in the company of children, or outside of your own home, depending on where you are, and the fines for doing so can be up to $500. In other words, don’t do that. Additionally, in many states recreational weed is legal, but others require a medical marijuana card to purchase. And no matter where you are, it’s illegal to drive while high. It’s always a good idea to ask a friend to be your DD before you light up.
As legal marijuana becomes more readily available, places like Colorado and Oregon have taken on a new life, allowing residents and visiting stoners to experience abstract art museums, outdoor sculpture gardens, ice cream shops, and hybrid comfort food pubs as they never have before. In honor of this cultural shift, here are the 18 best cities—from Colorado to the now newly green-listed New York—to legally smoke weed in, with hot spots to keep you occupied and entertained when you’re high AF. Just remember, laws are subject to change, so double-check the most up-to-date ordinances before you fire up the bong.
2.Anchorage, Alaska
Though adults 21 years of age and older have legally been able to purchase cannabis for recreational use in Alaska since 2014, it took almost two years for the first dispensary to open up. But visit now, and see that Alaska has been set ablaze (pun intended).
Before you start your day at the dispensary, stop at a Kaladi Brothers Coffee for a cup of joe from one of the top coffee roasters in the in the state. If you’re looking for something local and indulgent, head to Glacier Brewhouse for a bite of Bering Sea king crab or a house-brewed beer, then relax at Bear Tooth Theatrepub while you catch a second-run flick on the big screen.
Of course, in a place like Anchorage, it’d be a crime not to enjoy the great outdoors. Try not to cry when you visit the Chugach National Park and Forest, where stunning mountainscapes and glaciers can be seen along the hiking trails. Risk takers can get even higher with a birdseye view on the Alyeska Resort Aerial Tramway, and if you’re looking for something to squeal about, visit the Alaska Zoo (or keep your eyes peeled for moose in the wild).
3.Boston, Massachusetts
Since late 2016, you can legally possess and use one ounce of marijuana if you’re over 21, but it’s still illegal for you to purchase there.
Discover why the cannoli is an underrated dessert essential at Mike’s Pastry, dive face first into caramel covered french toast with bananas at Paramount for brunch, or find out how many oysters you can consume at Legal Harborside. Take a walk along the Charles River path, and then take a duck boat tour in an amphibious World War II vehicle if you want to have your mind blown with Boston’s rich history. You can also stare into the 200,000-gallon Caribbean coral reef tank at the New England Aquarium.
4.Burlington, Vermont
As of June 1, 2018, adults aged 21 and older can legally possess one ounce of cannabis and cultivate two plants of their own in Vermont.
If you’re ready to do some impulse buying, stroll around the heart of Burlington at the Church Street Marketplace to visit some of the 100+ shops located there—you can find everything from artisan crafts made by local artists at Frog Hollow, to funky clothing stores like Sweet Lady Jane’s. You’ll find a cultural community of gig-goers at ArtsRiot, an arts and music venue with its own restaurant, and get into the groove; if you visit on a Friday, grab a bite from one of the food trucks that come to their weekly Truck Stop. Once you’re ready to chill, visit Lake Champlain and mosy around the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center for interactive exhibits and stories about Champ, the monster of Lake Champlain (we’re not liable for any hallucinations).
Whether you’re winding down in the evening or looking for a mid-day pick-me-up, stop by Citizen Cider for a flight of homemade ciders curated from fresh Vermont apples. If cider’s not your thing, you can grab a beer at the original Zero Gravity Brewpub, which also happens to be home to local favorite pizza place, American Flatbread.
5.Chicago, Illinois
The Windy City moniker doesn’t just cover crooked politicians and breeze from the Great Lakes anymore, it also speaks to Chi-Town’s burgeoning legal weed scene. Starting in January of 2020, Illinois opened dispensaries for recreational adult-use sales and Chicago has been blazing ever since. Like every other legal weed state, you still can’t smoke on the street, but with dispensaries in just about every neighborhood, it’s just as easy to grab an eighth or two as it is to order a six-piece with mild sauce from Harold’s.
6.Denver, Colorado
Stoner paradise. Since 2012, you can legally purchase up to one ounce of marijuana for recreational purposes from a licensed dispensary if you’re over 21. As of 2016, there is a motion to pass and legalize social marijuana use—meaning you can go to a local bar, club, or venue that has a special permit and smoke on-site.
Pay tribute to how you survived your college years and visit the very first Chipotle, a half Grateful Dead / half dive themed bar called Sancho’s Broken Arrow, and then the Cheba Hut, a stoner-themed chain restaurant with a variety of toasted sandwiches.
For all things pizza, head to Sexy Pizza or Mary Jane’s Pizza (open until 4:20am, because of course). Go to Sweet Cow to live your authentic self and dive into wild flavors of ice cream, like Peanut Butter Captain Crunch, Ruby Red Grapefruit Sorbet, or Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel.
If you’re looking to experience a relaxing workout, open to reimagining your entire existence, or want to get a good stare going, try a yoga class at Bend & Blaze. Wanna play games? Hit everything from pinball to Jenga at OneUp; FTW, another local gastro-pub and game hall, has over 100 games, including shuffleboard.Go for a walk through the Space Gallery, and examine abstract artwork or throw a frisbee at Common Parks as you look over the skyline and wonder how we’re all just skeletons walking around in meat suits.
If you’re feeling like you want to sit down with a bunch of other stoners, talk about why we park on “driveways” and drive on “highways,” and do arts and crafts, there are local crafternoon classes of Puff & Paint, Puff & Pottery, and Puff & Cooking. The list goes on at Colorado Cannabis Tours. You can also eat bison testicles at Rocky Mountain Oyster.
Oh, and catch a show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre for unreal acoustics if you’re up for the trek just a bit outside Denver.
7.Detroit, Michigan
The Midwest cannabis scene is having a huge moment right now. In addition to Chicago, Detroit has cemented itself as a marijuana destination. Detroit has been working hard over the past five years to shed its once-bankrupt reputation, and the introduction of legal cannabis business has helped in a major way. Adult-use cannabis sales started in December 2019 and Detroit dispensaries have been booming ever since.
Detroit is also the perfect city to explore, stoned, with plenty of abandoned factories to tour, beautiful picnicking on Belle Isle, and enough amazing food to cure any case of the munchies.
8.Jersey City, New Jersey
New Jersey residents voted to legalize cannabis in November 2020, and while adult-use dispensaries won’t be open until 2021, the Garden State is already home to a bustling medical market. Once the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, adults will legally be allowed to carry up to six ounces of weed.
If you find yourself stoned in Jersey City, take a stroll along the waterfront and stick your nose up at the prohibitionists in New York City, expand your mind at the Liberty Science Center, or stop by the Second Street Bakery for snacks that have been made the same way since 1920.
9.Las Vegas, Nevada
Since July 2017, you can legally purchase and carry one ounce of marijuana—or an eighth-ounce of concentrates like wax, shatter, and oil—for recreational purposes from a licensed dispensary if you’re over 21.
Venture to the Pinball Hall of Fame and play all your favorite retro video games and iconic pinball machines. Play House of The Dead, Dance Dance Revolution, Jurassic Park, and any other game your anxiety can handle in the basement of the Excalibur Hotel. Bask in the air-conditioned Luxor lobby as you stare longingly at the pyramid shaped ceiling. You can sign up for one big regret at the Heart Attack Cafe on the Strip, or take it easy with a taste of Momofuku and their Milkbar for everything sweet and delicious.
10.Los Angeles, California
LA isn’t a new spot on the cannabis map, but the mecca of OG Kush and hype strains is consistently pushing the envelope when it comes to legal weed experiences.
Sure, you could get stoned and roller skate your way down the Venice pier directly into the ocean, but LA is also home to the Museum of Weed, incredible food from all over the world tucked into non-descript strip-malls, and out-of-the-box legal weed products like THC-infused ice cream delivered to your front door in a refrigerated Tesla. If you’re looking to experience the latest and greatest in legal cannabis, Los Angeles is the place to be.
11.New York City, New York
After years of stalled attempts, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and New York State have finally legalized adult usage of marijuana, becoming the 16th state in the country to do so.
In quickly becoming the other mecca for all your favorite strains with no stress or seeds, cannabis users will be able to take quick advantage of some places that already cater to your inner Sativa savage. You can hop on a CitiBike with friends to MedMen, located on the illustrious Fifth Avenue near Bryant Park, and have your pre-roll party extravaganza there. Or if you’re looking for that exclusive exotic, you can tap in with Hawaii Mike and Chef for Higher for that private social club vibe.
12.Oakland, California
The American green rush has evolved far past the West Coast, but from the LA beaches to the Redwood Forests in Humboldt, the Golden State is still the cannabis capital of the world. With that in mind, most people traveling to Northern California for a taste of the sweet leaf stop in San Francisco, but if you’re looking for a real slice of Bay Area life, head across the Bay Bridge to Oakland.
Of course, Oakland is home to plenty of weed, but the Town also has endless stoner-friendly activities. Stop by Jack London Square for a walk by the Bay, set up a picnic or BBQ on the grass at Lake Merritt, or head downtown off Broadway to shop for sneakers, books, and, stop by CALIBUENO for more weed.
13.Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The Great Plains is known as America’s breadbasket, but with the opening of Oklahoma’s medical marijuana program in 2018 the area is developing a quality cannabis reputation . Yes, the medical-only law does mean that OKC’s weed is only legal for medical card-holders, but the state’s medical-marijuana program is one of the most liberal in the country and accepts med cards from any state in the nation. So whether you’re a medical marijuana patient in California or Pennsylvania, you can take a trip to Oklahoma dispensaries whenever you’re in town and use your state’s medical marijuana license to purchase a temporary Oklahoma medical marijuana license for $100.
Those liberal MMJ laws also allowed for the opening of thousands of licensed dispensaries and tons of top-shelf bud brands. So whether you’re off hiking, enjoying the Myriad Botanical Gardens, or checking out a Thunder game, there’s always a legal pot shop close by.
14.Phoenix, Arizona
Arizona was one of the last West Coast states to pass full-scale adult-use legalization, but with a successful vote this Fall, the Southwest will soon be home to its own booming recreational weed market. Stores won’t be open to sell legal weed for a little while, but once the November election is certified, Copper State adults will be able to possess and consume up to one ounce of flower and five grams of concentrate at a time.
Phoenix can be unbearably hot year-round, but a joint or two by the pool is a great way to cool off before the sun goes down. If you can handle the heat, the city’s spacious desert vibes leave plenty of room for dirt bikes, 4-wheelers, or a sativa-fueled game of paintball.
15.Portland, Maine
Since early 2017, you can legally carry 2.5 ounces of marijuana and, again, only smoke in a private location if you are over 21. Still, Maine has gone under the radar as a legal weed hotspot because of lengthy delays to opening the local cannabis industry. Now that Maine has dispensaries that are opening and welcoming to any adult 21 years or older, the Pine Tree State is a Northern oasis for toking travelers.
Portland is a small city, but the nature surrounding it is huge. Take a ferry to the Casco Bay Islands for a day on the water, or hop in the car and take a short drive to one of the dozens of breathtaking hiking trails in the area. If you’re in the mood for mountains head to Pleasant Mountain and smoke a joint with a view. If you want to hit your vape pen with an ocean breeze, take a long walk at Popham Beach State Park.
Yetis. Bigfoot. Lake Monsters. Everything in your wildest dreams and stoner fantasies comes to life at the International Cryptozoology Museum. Find a little bit of sunshine in the Umbrella Cover Museum—yes, an entire collection of different umbrella cover designs, patterns, and prints. Got the munchies? Head to Duckfat for the obviously duck-fat-fried fries and hot-pressed paninis.
16.Portland, Oregon
You can legally possess weed and use it at home or on private property if you’re over 21, and you can acquire it either as a gift (with no money exchanged) or purchase it from a licensed retail location.
After smoking, get lost in a world of pan-Asian treats and snacks galore at Fubonn Market, play every arcade and pinball game at Ground Kontrol, and browse shelves upon shelves of titles at the largest independent bookstore at Powell’s. Unwind and watch the sunset from Skidmore Bluffs—or get freaked out by exploring the ruins of The Witch’s Castle. Get a family-sized dish of delight from the legendary Pok Pok, and top it off with insanely delicious Voodoo Doughnuts, like a Fruit Loop-glazed one or a bacon maple bar.
Hike up Rocky Butte and get a stellar view of Mount Hood, order the “æbleskiver” at Broder Nord for brunch, and experience the infamous shower scene from Psycho recreated IRL at Movie Madness Museum. Alternately, stop by the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium for a creepy look into an offbeat world of secrets, conspiracies, and other odd ephemera.
17.Rainier, Oregon
Rainier might not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of the Pacific Northwest, but the small town on the Oregon/Washington border sits directly on the banks of the Columbia River and is surrounded by gorgeous nature in every direction. Rainier is also perfect for an extended stay because it sits just one hour away from Portland, Oregon, and two hours from Seattle, Washington. If you set up shop for a week or two in Rainier, you can take easy day trips to two of the country’s premier cannabis destinations without breaking the bank on hotel or Airbnb costs.
18.San Francisco, California
Public consumption of weed is illegal, so keep it at home or on private property. However, adults over 21 can possess up to an ounce of weed or eight grams of concentrate. In 2018, you’ll be able to purchase marijuana for recreational use, in addition to medical use. Adults can already legally grow up to 6 plants for personal consumption.
If you’re high in town, you can stroll through the Presidio’s winding pathways, or take an Uber/Lyft down the winding Lombard Street to become more thankful for brakes. Taste every kind of baked good and all forms of toast at The Mill, enjoy unusually delicious flavors of ice cream from Humphry Slocombe, and conquer the best bowl of ramen at Nojo.
Step up to a new level of trippy and try to walk up the Secret Tiled Staircase; bring a piece of cardboard and slide down a concrete slide at Seward Street, or bring a friend and go exploring Albion Castle’s underground caves and passageways. Explore a maze of mirrors at Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze, or go to a theatre specifically built around experiencing sound at the Audium Theatre of Sound-Sculptured Space.
Get handsy at Exploratorium, where you can touch and play with the exhibits. Pray to the Force at the Yoda Fountain, or stop by San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers to see flowers and plants that you only thought exists in video games, storybooks, and your imagination. Before you come down, take a moment of zen at the Japanese Tea garden, bask in the exotic tree species over at Mescaline Grove, and find any burrito your heart desires in the Mission District.
19.Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is known as the ultimate destination for beach-loving college kids, but in recent years, the idealistic SoCal city has transformed into one of the world’s premier cannabis cultivation destinations.
Take a tour of a marijuana farm or processing facility after you hit up the dispensary, dine on the best Mexican food the U.S. has to offer, roll another blunt, and let the pristine beaches send you into a California trance.
20.Seattle, Washington
Since 2012, you can legally purchase up to one ounce of marijuana for recreational purposes from a licensed dispensary if you’re over 21.
In town, you can get trippy on glass sculptures at the Chihuly Garden and Glass, go sky high at the Sky View Observatory in The Columbia Tower, or play a wild array of video games at Gameworks or Georgetown Liquor Co. If you’re up for some warmer and fuzzy feelings, head to the Seattle Aquarium to visit the sea otters. If you’re feeling curious about what life was like in the dark days before marijuana was legalized, then head to the Dockside Cannabis Museum to explore prohibition-era items of yonder.
Hungry? Go to Dick’s Drive in for a Dick’s Deluxe, fries, and a chocolate milkshake—or head to Paseo to smash one of their iconic sandwiches. Still hungry? Of course you are. Head to Full Tilt Ice Cream for a brain freeze on all things creamy—skip the cupcakes at Cupcake Royal and get the Bananza with a caramel and fudge brownie or head to Hot Cakes for a creation of your own.
21.Washington, D.C.
Since 2014, you can smoke and carry recreational weed in the nation’s capital as you please, as long as it’s under two ounces and it was “gifted” to you. You are allowed to possess it, but not allowed to purchase it here. Bummer.
Once you do smoke, you can eat everything deep fried at Amsterdam Falafel, experience the glory of having your own personal pie at &Pizza, or walk into a stoner’s paradise at Maketto Marketplace, where you’ll find everything from dim sum to donuts. You can also take a stroll through Hirschorn Sculpture Garden, listen and feel all the experience of airplanes landing over you at Gravelly Point Park, or take a hike with plenty of water and snacks up to Mount Vernon.
If you’re into getting deep, you can confirm all of your wild conspiracy theories at the International Spy Museum, stare at confiscated bongs at the DEA Museum inside the lobby of the actual DEA (risky!), or trip out and connect all the lighted dots at the Villareal Tunnel exhibit at The National Gallery.