A weed tourist's guide to Las Vegas

Home to the world's two largest cannabis dispensaries, 68 total cannabis stores, over 170 flower strains, and countless other weed products, Las Vegas has all but fulfilled its “Amsterdam on steroids" billing.

Right now, there are just two consumption lounges for adults to consume outside of their homes legally, but at least five more to come throughout 2024. Sin City also features plenty of larger-than-life dispensaries, eccentric 420-friendly accommodations, and convenient legal drive-throughs, making it a must-see hotspot for cannabis tourism.

Cannabis laws in Nevada

State-licensed dispensaries and dispensaries on federally recognized tribal land are the only legal ways to buy cannabis in Nevada. Adults 21 years of age and older can purchase up to 2 ounces (about 57 grams) of cannabis flower or up to a quarter-ounce (7.1 grams) of the THC equivalent of cannabis concentrates, edibles, and other weed-infused products per day. Buyers must show a passport or ID to prove their age before purchase, and other than at the two open cannabis lounges, you can only consume the plant at private residences.

Man smoking joint Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Dispensaries can legally deliver recreational cannabis, but only to private residences. Of the 68 operating dispensaries in the Vegas Valley, 48 offer delivery. Casino-resorts and most hotels still ban weed since it's federally illegal, and smoking and driving is against the law. Local authorities recently promised to crack down on weed DUIs in the wake of an increasing number of related arrests.

While Nevada allows adults to grow up to six cannabis plants per person — or 12 plants per household — it's only legal for those who live more than 25 miles from the nearest dispensary. Just about all Las Vegas visitors will have a dispensary within a couple of miles from where they're staying, so the home-grow exception won't apply.

Where to find the best dispensaries in Las Vegas

While county officials have banned dispensaries on the Las Vegas Strip, and none of the casino-hotels allow weed inside, the Strip is still a great place to start. Most of the best and biggest dispensaries have completely surrounded the area, getting as close to Las Vegas Boulevard as possible in the hopes of winning business from the city's 45 million annual patrons.

Planet 13

Planet 13 houses the world's largest cannabis store at 16,500 square feet, but that's just scratching the surface of what the 112,000-square-foot mega-complex has to offer. Visitors to this immersive entertainment venue can watch culinary pros craft cannabis edibles and a variety of other goodies from close range. You'll also notice a towering machine blasting bubbly cannabis soda into rows of rainbow-colored plastic bottles lined up neatly on a winding conveyer belt.

And don't miss the light sensors that splash digital water droplets around your feet, the gigantic drone orbs that float around the ceiling, and the Mexican restaurant that provides excellent munchies.

Cookies on the Strip

Cookies on the Strip dispensary Photo by: Courtesy of Cookies on the Strip
Courtesy of Cookies on the Strip

Cookies on the Strip is one of two Cookies stores in Vegas, both of which have opened in the past 24 months. Despite its name, the popular dispensary is not officially on the Strip, but it's pretty darn close, kitty-corner from the Sahara Las Vegas casino on the northernmost point of the Strip.

Jardin

Jardin embodies Vegas-style glitz and glamor perhaps better than any other weed store in town. This east Las Vegas dispensary hires dancers (fully clothed) from gentlemen's clubs to double as budtenders. Jardin regularly welcomes iconic rappers for customer meet-and-greets; visitors include Snoop Dogg, 2 Chainz, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Boosie Badazz, and Anderson Paak, among others.

The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary dispensary Photo by: Courtesy of The Sanctuary

Owned by local Las Vegas residents with locations in North Vegas and Downtown, The Sanctuary offers respite, providing calm and artful spaces to peruse some of the best of Nevada cannabis. These dispensaries were built with the creativity and inspiration from the Burning Man festival, and both locations present the perfect space to take a pause from the bustle of Sin City.

New patients and recreational consumers get 20% off on all purchases. Delivery is available — no delivery to hotels, casinos, or businesses.

Licensed lounges to smoke cannabis in Las Vegas

Nevada recently finalized licensing for cannabis lounges, where consumers can legally smoke the plant at a licensed business, not unlike drinking at a bar.

Sky High Lounge at NuWu Cannabis Marketplace

Dabbing at Sky High Lounge Photo by: Courtesy of Sky High Lounge

Owned and operated by the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, the 3,000-square-foot Sky High Lounge offers small samples of a few dozen NuWu products, including flower, concentrates, vape cartridges, and even THC-infused cocktails. The brand also pioneered the cannabis drive-through — it opened the first in Vegas in 2017.

Smoke and Mirrors at Thrive Dispensary

Las Vegas' first state-licensed lounge opened in February 2024. Located inside Thrive Dispensary east of the Strip, Smoke and Mirrors made a name for itself with THC-infused cocktails dubbed for famous songs by artists with Vegas ties. The cocktails, with names like “Mr. Brightside” and “Born This Way,” feature 2.5, 5, and 10 milligram THC dose options per drink. 

The 1,300 square-foot indoor venue also sells four different waxes to dab and more than 20 different flower strains to smoke on-site.

420-friendly accommodations in Las Vegas

Short-term rental sites like Airbnb and Vrbo offer a smorgasbord of 420-friendly properties, but the list is constantly evolving.

Renting rooms or houses

People in a pool passing around joint Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

This weed-friendly palace in the desert is conveniently located near the Vegas airport, two miles west of the Strip, and claims to have room for 14 visitors. It's a 2,600-square-foot property with four bedrooms, arcade-style video game machines, pool table, gaming table, darts, and a giant backyard complete with a pool, diving board, and a fire pit. At over $400 per night (before fees), it requires a large group to make the final per-person price worth it.

If you're want something more low-key, check out TravelTHC's 420-friendly list of accommodations in and around Las Vegas.

Hotels

Weed-friendly hostels and hotels are significantly more difficult to come by, even in Vegas. But one 420-friendly spot plans to buck the trend. The Lexi Las Vegas — formerly known as the Artisan —is a 64-room hotel with a rich history. Opened in 1980, it has long branded itself as a “mischievous alternative" to the bigger casino-resorts, even as hands changed several times over the years. Guests in all 16 rooms on Lexi's fourth floor are allowed to consume weed. The rooms on that floor feature special ventilation systems to keep the air smelling reasonably fresh.

Things to do while high in Las Vegas

There's plenty of entertainment, nature, amusement, and good eats around Las Vegas.

Cheba Hut

A weed-themed sandwich chain, Cheba Hut comes through when the munchies inevitably hit. Its three Vegas locations feature over 25 different sandwiches with names like Chronic and Sensi Kush. Even better: they all have bars featuring drinks designed to help with cotton mouth.

Red Rock Canyon

Vegas Photo by: Daniel Halseth/Unsplash

Red Rock Canyon offers the best natural scenery and hiking in the area. One of its most popular trails, the 3.25-mile Kraft Mountain Loop, features a beautiful mix of iron-blushed sandstone and gray limestone that is a short 30-minute drive west from the Strip.

AREA15 — Meow Wolf's Omega Mart

A stroll through Area15, especially Meow Wolf's Omega Mart, is the ultimate sensory experience. Billed as an immersive entertainment venue, Area15 offers exotic art shows, VR experiences, axe throwing, and even a flight simulator. One of those venues, Meow Wolf, takes visitors through a mind-bending mesh of kaleidoscopic art in a faux grocery store, Omega Mart, that's every bit as unpredictable as it is unique.

Neon Museum

Featuring over 250 vintage Las Vegas casino and resort signs, the Neon Museum is ideal for visiting after sunset when the signs are lit. The place is unique and artsy, a perfect way to be wowed and inspired while stoned.

Cannabis tours

Various cannabis products in white bag Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Las Vegas Cannabis Tours is a leader in guided cannabis excursions and the most legitimate company that's still in business. Formed after the pandemic, it offers rides in bright green Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons to some of the city's most popular dispensaries.

Most tours are customizable, but the base deal includes stops at Planet 13, Jardin, and NuWu for $85 per person. Other packages include a smoke sesh at the Vegas Tasting Room for $125 per person and an extended “behind-the-scenes" dispensary tour complete with a gift bag for $175.

Rides and attractions

The SlotZilla Zoomline on Fremont Street and the Strat's Big Shot ride are not for the faint of heart but offer an incredible way for thrill-seekers to get an adrenaline fix while high. The Zoomline takes guests on a quarter-mile flight over downtown Vegas' main tourist area, while the Big Shot drops patrons 160 feet from one of the tallest points in the city near the Strip — proceed with caution.

FAQ

What's the difference between recreational and medical cannabis?

Recreational cannabis is available for adults aged 21 and up. Medical cannabis is only for registered patients. You'll need a medical card to buy medical cannabis in Las Vegas, which you likely won't have if you're only visiting. You need to be 21 and have an ID to buy recreational cannabis, which are both very likely if you're reading this.

What's a budtender, and what's the rule on tipping?

Budtenders are dispensary employees serving as resources for everything you want about cannabis products. Tipping is definitely a good idea, but the exact amount isn't as cut-and-dry as in other industries. Las Vegas budtenders are among the most hospitable of those in any city across the country, so take note of any useful tips or advice that lead to your purchase and tip accordingly. Most budtenders generally appreciate a 5 - 10% tip.

What can I expect at the dispensary?

Vegas dispensaries may feel like walking into the lobby of a medical clinic. You'll see a desk, a receptionist to check you in, and perhaps a bunch of other customers waiting around in chairs. Don't be alarmed; you're at the right place. State law requires Vegas dispensaries to store cannabis products out of sight from the building's front door and outside windows, so every dispensary in the city will have a waiting room or lobby that you pass through before entering the shopping area.

The receptionist will ask for your ID. Dispensaries are not legally required to take down your information, but most do in order to cover their tracks in case state inspectors stop by. You might have to fill out a consent form, though that's becoming less common. When it's your turn, a budtender will meet you at the entrance to the shopping area. They'll escort you inside and be available to answer any questions you might have. From there, it's like shopping anywhere else: products sit on display in jars, on shelves, or behind glass cases. When you decide what you want, let your budtender know, and they'll bring it behind the counter for you to purchase.

How much cannabis can I buy?

purchasing weed at a dispensary Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

You can legally buy up to one ounce of cannabis flower or up to an eighth-ounce of the THC equivalent of cannabis concentrates, edibles, and other weed-infused products per day as a recreational buyer in Las Vegas. You're not allowed to stockpile. If a police officer catches you with more than the daily limit in your possession, you can face a minimum $600 fine and a misdemeanor citation. So, use up most of your weed before hitting the dispensary to buy more.

Federal law prohibits crossing state lines with cannabis, even from one weed-legal state to another. What happens in Vegas has to stay in Vegas, at least when it comes to cannabis.

Are dispensaries still cash-only, or can I use a card? What about other forms of payment, like Apple Pay?

Dispensaries have explored all kinds of ways to move away from cash. But as long as weed is federally illegal, card payment will be tricky. The majority of Las Vegas dispensaries accept debit cards, but not credit or Apple Pay, and they run the debit cards as “cashless ATM" transactions through your bank. Essentially, handheld card readers at dispensary registers disguise your weed purchase as a cash withdrawal.

The tricky part? Weed receipts rarely land on even dollar figures after taxes, but most ATMs force customers to round to the nearest $10 or $20. So when someone buys an eighth-ounce of bud for $32.66, they have to pay $40 through their debit card, only to get $7.34 in cash back from the budtender at the register. Dispensaries normally round up to the nearest dollar, then tack on ATM fees ranging from $2 to $5.

In short, cash is still your best bet.

Can I buy from multiple dispensaries on the same day?

Yes, as long as you're under the daily purchase limit or you avoid buying from the same dispensary chain. There's no state tracking system for recreational cannabis buyers, meaning one store won't know if you've already been to another store. However, If you're buying from multiple stores owned by the same parent company, they'll likely have a record of you and your purchases in their systems.

Where can I use cannabis in Las Vegas?

Right now, you can smoke cannabis at private residences. All public places — such as parks, campgrounds, and national forests — are off-limits, as are bars, coffee houses, casino-hotels, and the dispensary where you bought the weed. Cannabis consumption lounges are scheduled to open soon, but that won't happen until June at the very earliest. Though no one would question if you popped an edible before walking down the Strip.

Avoid using weed before or while driving — DUIs are abundant in Las Vegas, and there's no shortage of police officers ready to pull over stoned drivers.

Featured image by Sung Shin on Unsplash

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The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical or legal advice. This page was last updated on March 6, 2024.