Dr. Greenthumb’s cultivates a new following in Santa Maria. O’ahu patients say aloha to the island’s tenth dispensary. And Louisiana’s new 10,000-square-foot superstore opens its doors in Lake Charles. Here are the new dispensaries openings across America this month.

Got a new shop? Put it on the map. Visit Leafly Success to advertise. 

California

Dr. Greenthumb’s—Santa Maria, CA. Opened Dec. 7. Buying cannabis from a chain owned by a member of hip hop group Cypress Hill just feels right. Owned by rapper B Real, Dr. Greenthumb’s is a popular chain of cannabis dispensaries named for the group’s 1998 ode to cultivating chronic. Their newest location — the chain’s seventh to open in California — brings the familiar touch of expert budtenders and exceptional product to the good people of Orcutt. 1604 East Clark Ave, Ste 101, Santa Maria.

Red Falcon Yucca Valley Dispensary— Yucca Valley, CA. Opened Dec. 7. Residents of Yucca Valley had an additional reason to celebrate this holiday season with the debut of the area’s first legal cannabis dispensary. Run by the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, the shop is set to feature products made exclusively in-house within the Coachella Valley. With the opening of their Yucca Valley location, the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians is now overseeing three Red Falcon Dispensary stores in southern California. 54929 29 Palms Hwy, Yucca Valley.

Connecticut

Shangri-La—Norwalk, CT. Opened Nov. 26. You’ll have no trouble spotting the bold pink and purple paint marking Norwalk’s newest dispensary. Marking the third — and final — dispensary to be allowed to open in the city, Shangri-La features a “candy-colored drive-thru” and a retail space infused with a diverse inventory of cannabis products. The opening of Shangri-La will serve as the chain’s second Norwalk location, joining a previously opened store at 430 Main Ave. 75 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk. shangriladispensaries.com/norwalk-shop/

Florida

Planet 13—Gulf Breeze, FL. Opened Dec. 18. Continuing their aggressive expansion into the Sunshine State, Planet 13 opened their 29th dispensary in Florida late last month. Located “within proximity of Pensacola’s iconic white sand beaches [and] historic downtown,” Planet 13’s Gulf Breeze location will serve the metro area’s growing medical cannabis community with conveniences that include express pick-up and drive-thru options. 2871 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze.

Hawaii

Cure Oahu—Kailua, HI. Opened Dec. 5. Qualified patients seeking medical cannabis in Kailua can now head to Cure O’ahu: the brand’s third store to open on the island so far. Marking O’ahu’s tenth dispensary to open to date, Cure O’ahu’s Kailua will carry forward with a mission to provide much-needed access to patients on the windward side of Oahu,” per Liam Gimon, Hawaii’s DOH Dispensary Licensing Supervisor. 70 Kihapai Street, Kailua.

Illinois

Beyond/Hello—Peoria, IL. Opened Dec. 13. Bid a welcome salutation to Beyond/Hello, Peoria’s fifth of sixth permitted dispensaries to open in the area. Making its debut just in time for the December holidays, Beyond/Hello is now overseeing five dispensaries across Illinois. Their Peoria location promises a LGBTQ+ friendly atmosphere, free parking, and a “wide range of cannabis products from nearly all IL grower processors and vendors.” 7620 IL-91 Suite A, Peoria.

Terrabis—Dixon, IL. Opened Dec. 21. Cannabis dispensary chain Terrabis continued its expansion into Illinois with the opening of its third store. Located in Dixon, the latest Terrabis location’s amenities include a customer loyalty program and a menu stocked with the best in local flower. Customers seeking additional cannabis products will find a hearty selection of pre-rolls, vape carts, edibles, and topicals available as well. 1679 S. Galena Ave., Dixon.

Louisiana

Good Day Farm—Lake Charles, LA. Opened Dec. 4. A new era is dawning with the opening of Good Day Farm in Lake Charles, which is being billed as “[the] largest medical cannabis dispensary in the South.” Clocking in at a staggering 10,000 square feet, Good Day Farm is counting on a colossal footprint paired with a generous inventory that includes “award-winning gummies, premium flower, flavorful vapes and convenient, bestselling pre-rolls.” Qualified patients can make purchases in-store, by drive-thru, or via Good Day Farm’s discreet delivery service. 3005 L’Auberge Blvd, Lake Charles.

New Jersey

Herbs Premium—Somerset, NJ. Opened Dec. 9. Residents of Somerset welcomed a new “go-to destination for elevated cannabis experiences” with the opening of Herbs Premium. Conceived as “a shared dream among close-knit family friends,” Herbs Premium was conceived as “a space that feels more like a high-end retreat than a typical dispensary.”  At Herb Premium, customers can take pleasure in speaking with experts who care, choosing between top-quality brands, and shopping at a store that supports the Somerset community through local initiatives. 757 Franklin Blvd, Somerset.

New York

Grass & Goodness— Schenectady, NY. Opened Nov. 30. Inspired by their own experiences overcoming personal struggles with the help of cannabis, Grass & Goodness is owned by a father-and-son team and staffed with trained cannabis experts. Grass & Goodness promises “a healthy dose of good vibes” and “the highest quality products from our local partners.” The shop’s offerings also include a dedicated community space that regularly plays host to educational events and yoga classes. 1650 Crane Street, Schenectady.

Domes Dispensary—Kingston, NY. Opened Nov. 30. You won’t find many dispensaries that can claim to look as cool as New York’s Domes Dispensary. Located off Route 28 near Woodstock, the Hudson Valley store consists of two connected geodesic domes. Beyond its gorgeous geometric design, Domes Dispensary sports a tantalizing menu of legal cannabis products that includes a variety of flower, tinctures, concentrates, and more. 268 Forest Hill Drive, Kingston.

Fireleaf—Brooklyn, NY. Opened Nov. 30. Trinidadian-American lawyer Vaughn Mayers saw a long saga draw to a joyful close with the opening of Fireleaf Dispensary in late November. Mayers has formerly faced legal troubles related to cannabis, making the long-awaited launch of his legal dispensary in Brooklyn, New York a true cause for jubilation. “It was a really hurtful thing, growing up in the streets of Brooklyn,” Mayers told a reporter from Caribbean Life at his store’s grand opening. “This is a reparative moment for me.” 2102 Ralph Avenue, Brooklyn.

Texas

Texas Original—The Woodlands, TX. Opened Dec. 9. Getting medical cannabis in Texas has gone from a surefire felony to a legal right, leaving the door wide open for qualified patients to finally enjoy consistent access to quality products. For those who reside in The Woodlands, the arrival of Texas Original is big news. Now open three days a week, the chain — currently the leading licensed medical cannabis dispensary service in Texas — hopes its newest location will make life easier for patients in the Houston area. 1500 Research Forest Dr, Ste 120, The Woodlands.

Did we miss any? Leave a comment with a new one.

Got a new shop? Get it on the map. Visit Leafly Success to advertise. 

The tropical paradise just got a little better, the state’s senate just approved recreational cannabis.

Hawaii one of the smallest states and is the 39th most populous 1.4 million residents. Two thirds live on Oʻahu. Tourism is the life blood of the island with 932,713 visiting in 2023. In the first quarter of that year,  visitor spending was $2.11 billion, up from $1.78 billion (+18.5%) the previous year.  Now, legal marijuana says Aloha Hawai’i thanks to their state house.

Related: California or New York, Which Has The Biggest Marijuana Mess

The rise of marijuana was fueled by the burgeoning jazz scene in the 1930s and ’40s which coincided with the growth of surfing in the in the ’50s. Hawaii become a Mecca for wave, music and sun…and maybe a little something else.  Now Hawaii is enshrining them all into law. Roughly. 58% of Hawai’i residents are in favor of “legalizing marijuana to allow possession, manufacture, and sale of marijuana by and to adults and elected heard the message!

The Hawai’i State Senate passed a bill that would legalize and regulate cannabis for adults 21 and older, with am additional focus on public safety. The bill now moves to the Hawai’i House of Representatives for consideration.

Before reaching the Senate floor, the bill was approved by four committees. Amendments  were approved during the committee process, including to add non-discrimination provisions that would prevent children from being taken away based on cannabis, prevent parole/probation revocation, and prevent state benefits and entitlements from being denied; and to provide for expungement and resentencing.

RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

The Hawai’i alliance for Cannabis reform is very optimistic about it passing the House and being signed by the governor.

Nikos Leverenz, of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawai’i and the Hawai’i Health and Harm Reduction Center shared “Although this is an imperfect bill that still contains far too many elements of criminalization, it’s welcome news to have a viable adult-use legalization bill that can be improved upon when it reaches the House. Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii and other members of the Hawaii Alliance for Cannabis Reform are hopeful that our proposed amendments will be considered by the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee. It will also be important for reform advocates to engage skeptical members of the House, including many freshman lawmakers, who have placed far too much currency in the monotonous, less than fact-based rhetoric from the criminal legal lobby.”

Things move slower in Hawai’i as the population tends to be stable with few people either moving to or away from the island.  They are very relationship based and having something like this takes time and great effort.

Some beer loving states are facing an uphill battle with marijuana

It is classic favorite of the public, beer holds a grip and is the favored intoxicant of those who imbibe. It is the most consumed alcohol in the world. In fact, after water and tea, beer is actually one of the most popular drinks in the world! According to reports, in the 2022 brewing year, global beer production ended up increasing slightly year-on-year by 1.3%.  This translates to almost 50 BILLION gallons each year.

RELATED: Swap Your Favorite Alcohol Drink With Weed

Data is clear cannabis is better than alcohol for many reasons. People die from alcohol overdoses. There has never been a fatal marijuana overdose.  Yet, states who love beer are slow to weed.  There are exceptions. If you are a beer distillery, you might have a good reason if you aren’t invested in marijuana.  Gen Z is drifting away from alcohol and California has seen a decline specifically in beer sales, in part due ot legal marijuana.

The number one beer state is New Hampshire.  The Granite States pops a cold one more often per capita than any other state.  Yet, medical marijuana is legal, but recreational use remains illegal.

Montana is big sky country and enjoys a a beer while enjoying the magnificent views.  Slow to the dance, the state has legal medical and recreational marijuana. Recreational use was legalized in 2020 with dispensaries opened in January 2022

Vermont folks, while they enjoy their beer, also are enjoying their bud. The Granite state legalized medical (2018) and recreational (2022) marijuana are legal. Vermonters beat to their own drum.

North Dakota state motto includes “Liberty and Union, now and forever”.  But when it comes to marijuana, there is no liberty of choice. While medical marijuana is grudgingly legal, recreational use is against the law.

Maine has been a leader in how to roll out recreational weed, and it hasn’t had the downsides for beer.  A well oiled machine can make winners of all industries.

RELATED: The Most Popular Marijuana Flavors

South Dakota mirrors their neighbor to the north slowly allowing medical marijuana seeing recreational as a crime.  Alcohol sales boom in the sparsely populated state.

Pennsylvania has the Philadelphia, the famed city of brotherly love, but they have no love for weed. Medical marijuana is legal, but recreational is not. Which is interesting considering the size of state and the potential tax revenue which could be generated for their budget.

Nevada believes what happen in Vegas, stays in Vegas…but the larger casino owners had to be dragged kicking and screaming into legalizing both medical and recreational.  Now it has the largest dispensary in Planet 13 and soon will have Cannabition, the revolutionary marijuana immersive experience.

Hawaii allows servers to serve customers providing they are 18 years of age and if a  supervisor 21 or older is present.  But weed is a big no no. The state with an amazing international tourism base only has legal medical marijuana.

Wisconsin the top most popular beer state has is also one of hte few state to not allow medical or recreational marijuana.

Only 4 of the 10 of the most beer love states allow recreational marijuana.  Some of the other smaller states which legalized weed have not seen an impact on beer, which is another case of live and let live.