Celebrate Green Wednesday, the Cannabis Black Friday

High Points

• Green Wednesday is the cannabis industry’s Black Friday, landing the day before Thanksgiving. It’s a canna-holiday like 4/20, where shoppers tend to buy more of their favorite THC products.
  
  
• Sales tend to surge as people stock up before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. There are several theories as to why this happens: some consumers use cannabis as a stress reliever; others swap alcohol for THC products; and for many, it’s simply a reflection of mainstream acceptance.
  
  
• Dispensaries drop major deals all week, not just on Green Wednesday. To get the best haul without stress, sign up for emails/loyalty rewards, shop earlier in the week, and order online to avoid long lines.
  
  

Green Wednesday is the day before Thanksgiving when cannabis enthusiasts flock to dispensaries across the country to stock up on their favorite products before spending the next day with their families.¹ What makes this canna-holiday unique is that it wasn’t started by the retailers–like most shopping-related celebrations. In 2017, a cannabis delivery company in California noticed that sales went through the roof during the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. As cannabis legalization spread across the country, so did the uptick in sales on the same day every year.²

As cannabis legalization continues to spread across the country, so does the uptick in sales on the same day every year. Reports over the years have shown that cannabis lovers spent big on Green Wednesday, with sales increasing over 90% when compared to a typical Wednesday.³

While the exact reason behind this trend is “highly” debated, there are several theories:

• Alcohol Substitute - Festive cocktails and fancy beers and wines have always been staples at holiday parties, but recent surveys show that more consumers are swapping alcohol for cannabis products like THC beverages and gummies.⁴
  
  

• Holiday Stress - A combination of family drama, social anxiety, and stressful travel situations may lead to cannabis use as a coping mechanism. In fact, a survey conducted in 2022 found that 24% of participants plan to consume cannabis to help them enjoy the holidays more.⁵
  
  

• Increased Acceptance - As more and more states legalize cannabis, the stigma around marijuana use is waning. Traditions like the “Thanksgiving Walk” or “Cousin Walk” in which families enjoy cannabis together may no longer be a source of secrecy or shame.⁶
  
  

If this is your first Green Wednesday, you might be wondering if there are ways to capitalize on deals while also reducing shopping stress. Here are our top three tips to help you do just that: 

• Sign Up for Dispensary Emails & Loyalty Programs: We get it—the last thing any of us need is more emails clogging our inbox. But if you’re a cannabis enthusiast looking to catch a deal for Green Wednesday, this is going to be your best way to get ahead of the crowd. Dispensaries send out many of their promotions over email and text, and some even reward their most loyal customers with additional discounts. It pays to be part of these distribution lists and loyalty programs.
  
  
• Shop for Deals All Week: Don’t sleep on the days before Green Wednesday. A lot of dispensaries recognize the tidal wave of cannabis enthusiasts they’re going to get that day, so they roll out deals earlier in the week. Make sure you’re signed up for email deals and loyalty program alerts to know when the sales are dropping. It’s the best way to buy bud on a budget.

• Order Online Ahead of Time: On the second busiest shopping day of the year, you can expect some wait times and lines to get to your favorite bud. Because of this, you might find it a lot easier to just order online for pickup in-store. Not only will you avoid the wait, but you’ll secure the product you want before it’s sold out. 

Get ready for the big holiday by making sure you know the answers to these frequently asked Danksgiving questions:

When did Green Wednesday start?

In 2017, cannabis dispensaries noticed that shoppers were flocking to dispensaries before the long Thanksgiving holiday. This made Wednesday one of the biggest selling days of the year. Not to be outdone by big box stores’ Black Friday, a California cannabis delivery service named the day Green Wednesday.

Are dispensaries open on Thanksgiving?

While we can’t speak for every dispensary across the country, there’s a good chance that your favorite dispensary will be closed on Thanksgiving so the budtenders can enjoy time with their families too.

Do dispensaries have Black Friday deals?

While you can probably expect a couple Black Friday deals at your dispensary, the smart cannabis enthusiasts are going to be there for Green Wednesday, aka the day before Thanksgiving, which is the Black Friday of cannabis.

Celebrate Green Wednesday

The best way to celebrate Green Wednesday is to plan ahead. Make sure you follow our tips for staying on top of deals to ensure you don’t miss out on any sales happening during the holiday week. This may also be a good time to leverage your friendship with your favorite budtender when you visit a dispensary. Maybe they can tip you off to something happening soon or at least tell you when to keep an eye out for new deals being posted.