Here’s how you know the world has changed: there’s an adult-use cannabis dispensary on Nantucket. And not just one, but two, including The Green Lady Dispensary, which carries product actually grown on Nantucket and is the first women- and minority-owned cannabis company in Massachusetts.
It’s safe to say that our city and state are now awash in adult-use dispensaries both great and small and corporate and indie, which means you no longer have to hoof it to Western Mass to get your cannabis needs met. With 4/20 coming up and so many new weed shops to choose from, there’s no better time to get out there and meet the city’s newest budtenders—especially those staffing locally along with championing strong social missions.
From shops that focus on edibles to places that sell homegrown flowers, here are the best weed dispensaries in Boston and the surrounding area.
The Heritage Club
Charlestown
The first Black Woman-owned, adult-use dispensary in Boston embraces both the healthfulness and the luxury of cannabis. Owner Nike John places a premium on graciousness, so that first-time customers feel as comfortable as long-time regulars while perusing the selection of edibles, flowers, vapes, and concentrates. John, a licensed real estate professional, is also a social equity applicant and is focused on a closing cost assistance program that offers help to first-time buyers.
UpTop Dispensary
West Roxbury & Framingham
Sometimes you just want to walk into a dispensary and not feel like you’re the last one to the party. UpTop cultivates an atmosphere of inclusivity in both of its stores, so much so that you might feel like you’ve wandered into a neighborhood community center. Soon enough you’ll feel completely at ease to ask all about their flower, edible, vape and tincture selections. Be sure to try products from UpTop’s sister company Neighborgoods, a homegrown selection of everyday basics (plus some fancier selections) sourced from a single strain with no additives.
Harbor House Collective
Chelsea
“Just buds selling buds” is such a perfect slogan that we’re shocked no one has come up with it before. But it’s an apt motto for this family-run dispensary that sources its flowers from its native Colombia and channels a longtime cannabis passion into a boutique store that is “high-end, but not high-brow” (they’re really good with the words!). Besides the expected collection of flower, vapes, concentrates, and pre-rolls, you can try a hybrid pina colada sorbet or while away an afternoon with an Arnold Palmer made with their half tea, half lemonade powder.
Berkshire Roots
East Boston & Pittsfield
Berkshire Roots happens to showcase the largest growing operation in Western Mass, as evidenced by robust flower selection. They also have pre-rolls and a strong lineup of concentrates as well as gummies, chocolates, and four different tinctures all made in-house. All that plus the space is so calming and modern you’ll feel like you’ve walked into an REI (but better).
Bud’s Goods & Provisions
Multiple locations
You have to love dispensaries that have decorative themes. The two outlets of Bud’s Goods are designed as a throwback diner (Worcester) and a movie theater (Abington) (Watertown is a more traditional, well-appointed retail outlet). But there’s nothing nostalgic about the products, which includes pre-rolls, concentrates, baked goods, and Lil’ Buds, one of the state’s first white-label offerings (i.e. more affordable).
Ethos
Watertown
Befitting its name, Ethos is more than an everyday dispensary; instead, it is committed to empowering its customers through transparency and knowledge, with the overarching goal of helping every visitor feel better, whether for health purposes or for fun. We’re especially impressed by the vast amount of edibles, including many a seltzer, but the infused seasoned salt would shake up our kitchen entirely. And, how can you resist trying out Big Papi’s new line of cannabis products? If you’re feeling shy despite the welcoming atmosphere, you can also place your order via one of the self-serve iPads.
High Profile x Budega
Dorchester & Roslindale
CEO Brian Chavez is one of the only social equity applicants in the country to obtain licenses for three stores—and in fact, two of the three planned outlets are former bodegas owned by his family. Chavez’s stores in Dorchester and Roslindale feature products from partner C3 Industries, particularly flower, pre-rolls, concentrates and vape cartridges from Cloud Cover, grown right in Franklin.
Mission
Brookline & Georgetown
Folks love the budtenders here for their friendliness and patience as they walk you through every possible product to fit your wants and needs. And the product is extensive: coveted flower strains, a wide variety of carts, and tons of pre-rolls. They even sell an infused ramen seasoning, which makes for a pretty fantastic late-night snack.
NETA Brookline
Brookline
NETA Brookline is housed inside a beautiful converted bank, all high ceilings and ornate dark wood—the only difference being that the “tellers” traffic in the doob. The menu is comparable to its Northampton counterpart, though its enduring popularity sometimes means the product runs out more quickly. Bonus points go to the staff for their friendly but no-nonsense attitude (not every dispensary customer seeks a woo-woo experience).
Pure Oasis
Dorchester & Downtown
Boston’s first recreational cannabis dispensary—and in fact, the first recreational shop to open in a major East Coast city—is as beloved as they come, and the Black-owned Pure Oasis maintains a tremendous track record selling flower, pre-rolls, concentrates, and edibles like chocolates and fruit chews. It owes its success in part to its exemplary customer service, which is both friendly and education-oriented. Keep an eye out soon for its third outlet in Brighton.
Sanctuary
Multiple locations
Of course you want your weed to be organic. At least, you do if you’ve made your way to Sanctuary, which prides itself on the high-quality cultivation of its products. It sells a variety of flower and pre-rolls, plus vape cartridges and a dash of concentrates. Among the enticing roster of edibles are watermelon fruit chews and grape lozenges.
Seed
Jamaica Plain
It’s criminal that Jamaica Plain hasn’t had an adult-use dispensary sooner, but Seed was well worth the wait. The selection of flowers and pre-rolls is substantive; especially impressive are the collections of tinctures and edibles. But here’s what brings it home: The Core Social Justice Cannabis Museum housed inside, which explores the consequences of the war on drugs and the country’s cannabis laws, especially their disproportionate impacts on communities of color.
Theory Wellness
Multiple locations
If “seed to sale” is the new “farm to table,” Theory is a trailblazer. Its small batch product is grown right in Bridgewater, resulting in a good variety of flower with two sizes of pre-rolls plus cartridges, Pax pods, and concentrates. The shops also feature plenty of edibles, tinctures, and a muscle lotion that won’t get you high but will definitely ease any lingering tension. (Full Story)