While Phoenix may not be the first city that comes to mind for cannabis tourism, it boasts weed-friendly accommodations and smoke lounges, 60+ cannabis dispensaries — including the only pot shop in the country with an infused kitchen — and gorgeous sites to see after blazing. It's quickly becoming a stoner's paradise.
Plan your next top-shelf trip to Phoenix with our 420-friendly tourism guide.
Cannabis laws in Arizona
Before you start smoking your way across Phoenix, it's good to understand the current cannabis regulations in Arizona. Recreational cannabis is legal, which means adults 21 and older can purchase cannabis products — including flower, extracts, edibles, topicals, salves, and capsules — from a state-licensed dispensary.
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Adults can buy up to 1 ounce (28 grams) of cannabis flower and no more than 5 grams of concentrates. A 16% sales tax is added to every purchase. Delivery is not currently available for recreational users.
Where to find the best dispensaries in Phoenix
With multiple dispensaries located less than five minutes from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and even more licensed pot shops spread throughout the city, you'll have no trouble filling your stash with some of Arizona's dankest products. Here are a few of the top shops:
tru|med
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Ask a local where to buy the best weed in town, and many will point you to tru|med. It stocks plenty of top-shelf brands and products, but what truly sets it apart are the strains grown exclusively for its menu by its in-house cultivation team. From Gastro Pop to Guava Drip to Project 45, all the in-house strains are top-shelf quality and offer unique options compared to other shops in town.
Trulieve
With 21 locations across Arizona and an extensive menu that includes premium and budget options, Trulieve is an excellent go-to marijuana dispensary you can find almost anywhere in the city. While the extensive menu may have felt overwhelming at first, the friendly staff made us feel right at home and gave us personalized recommendations based on our budget and the desired effects we were seeking.
The Mint Cannabis
Photo by: Courtesy of Mint CannabisImage lightbox
Featuring the nation's first and only cannabis-infused to-go kitchen, The Mint Cannabis is a must-visit for anyone who loves eating their way to the highest of highs. The menu features casual classics like weed pizza, hot wings, and fries that can be dosed with either 50 or 100 milligrams of activated cannabis. These are potent dishes, so start low and go slow.
The dispensary also offers a 24-hour drive-thru and a vast menu of top-shelf products to fuel those late-night sessions.
Bonus: Best headshop in Phoenix
Forgot to pack your travel pipe? No problem. Bud's Glass Joint has all the smoking accessories you need to fuel your stoner adventures. And if you're in the market for a stoney souvenir, the shop showcases glasswork from talented local artists, including Desi B, Josh Porter, Shawn Henderson, and many others. We can't think of a better way to remember a trip than with a new piece of heady glass.
420-friendly accommodations in Phoenix
Though not flush with 420-friendly stays or short-term rentals like other cannabis-friendly destinations, there's one stand-out in the Valley of the Sun.
The Clarendon Hotel and Spa
Photo by: Courtesy of The Clarendon HotelImage lightbox
There's no need to worry about paying extra fees for smoking in your room at Arizona's first cannabis-friendly hotel. The Clarendon Hotel and Spa is located a few short miles from downtown Phoenix, and the modern and spacey rooms are decked out in state-of-the-art filtration systems that keep them smelling fresh throughout your stay.
With a dedicated smoking lounge and a rooftop deck that features amazing views of the city, you'll be able to smoke and chill with other guests from all around. Book a room here.
Things to do while high in Phoenix
After you've stopped by the pot shop, Phoenix offers plenty to do and see.
Visit a cannabis smoke lounge
Taking inspiration from prohibition-era speakeasies, The HIGH Lounge is discovered by entering a “secret” door near the back of what appears to be a standard head shop. Once you cross the threshold, you're greeted by friendly staff and a sprawling lounge area with tons of big-screen TVs and comfortable seating for your sesh. You'll need to bring your own flower or concentrates, and then you can rent bongs and dab rigs from a huge selection that includes glasswork from Swissperc, Sovereignty, Bear Mountain Studios, and many other stellar artists. Don't panic when the munchies hit; they've got you covered with an extensive menu of international sodas, chips, candy, and more, making this the perfect place to stop for a sesh while you explore the city.
Address: 411 S Mill Ave #103, Tempe, AZ 85281
Find the best spots for munchies
Photo by: Courtesy of The YardImage lightbox
Chēba Hut: What's better than eating a toasted sub while toasted? Chēba Hut has been curing munchies since 1998 with their stoner-centric menu featuring delicious toasted sandwiches named after some of our favorite old-school strains like Kali Mist, White Widow, and Panama Red, as well as various Rice Krispy Treats and other crave-worthy bites.
The Yard Milkshake Bar: Stoners with a sweet tooth better save some room for The Yard Milkshake Bar. Located in downtown Phoenix, The Yard serves up over-the-top creations you'll have to see (and taste) to believe. The menu features seasonal and classic shakes, or you can freestyle a concoction with 24+ ice cream flavors, 60+ toppings, and eight different types of edible cookie dough to choose from.
Explore the Desert Botanical Garden
If the Phoenix Botanical Garden looks extraterrestrial through sober eyes, imagine how they look after a fat joint of GMO from Aeriz. Get lost in the jaw-dropping maze of towering saguaro cacti and other-worldly plants. Pack a snack, some water, and maybe an edible or two while you wander the beautiful gardens and learn about the 50,000+ plants on display throughout the 140-acre property.
Watch the sunset from Hole in the Rock
Photo by: Ryan Beltz on UnsplashImage lightbox
Arizona's sunsets are renowned for their beautiful, vibrant colors thanks in part to the dry climate, and a popular place to soak it in is the Hole in the Rock rock formation. Located just east of the city in Papago Park, the viewpoint is a short 0.3-mile hike from the parking lot and offers spectacular views of the sun setting over Phoenix and the surrounding desert. Since it's a popular spot for families, we recommend seshing before you arrive or bringing a few edibles for a stealth high.
Hike up Camelback Mountain
For stoners looking for a more physical challenge, Camelback Mountain sits 20 minutes outside the city and is well-regarded as one of the best hikes and most popular attractions in the area. Hikers can choose from two trails, though both are fairly difficult, so plan accordingly to reach the 2,700-foot summit that offers stunning panoramic views of the city. Pick up an energetic sativa before heading out.
Become one with eternity at the Phoenix Art Museum
Photo by: Courtesy of Phoenix Art MuseumImage lightbox
What started as a quick visit to the Phoenix Art Museum to see a trippy exhibit turned into an entire afternoon exploring beautiful works of art. The reason for our visit – Yayoi Kusama's infinity mirror room, titled You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies – was a mind-blowing psychedelic visual experience that will make you feel like you're entering another dimension. Once you're ready to re-enter reality, the museum's nine collections featuring 20,000+ pieces of artwork offer a visual buffet for your high eyes to devour.
Jam out at the Musical Instrument Museum
Getting high and lost in music is one of our favorite pastimes. So when we heard that Phoenix is home to the world's only global Musical Instrument Museum, we just had to visit. The museum displays more than 6,800 instruments, along with multimedia exhibits that let you see, hear, and experience music from all corners of the planet. We highly recommend enjoying a strain that expands your creativity before exploring all this museum has to offer.
Have your mind blown by the Grand Canyon
Photo by: Omer Nezih Gerek on UnsplashImage lightbox
If you make the journey to Phoenix, you may as well travel a bit further to see one of the greatest geographical features in the world: the Grand Canyon. For us, there's nothing like enjoying nature's gift of cannabis while at the same time staring out in awe at nature's beauty. With 30+ hiking trails and 10+ viewpoints, the Grand Canyon is a worthy trip whether you're in the mood for a more challenging hike or if you'd rather take it chill and enjoy the views from your car.
Featured image by Frames For Your Heart on Unsplash
