Black Friday has become synonymous with long lines, killer deals, and super-packed stores, although online shopping (and the pandemic) has moved much of that online. But did you know that the cannabis industry has its own unofficial shopping day? Green Wednesday, which falls on the day before Thanksgiving, is one of the biggest shopping days for the cannabis industry. Here’s what you need to know about this unofficial holiday.  

What is Green Wednesday? 

Like Black Friday, Green Wednesday is an annual shopping event that occurs the day before Thanksgiving. Unlike Black Friday, though, Green Wednesday wasn’t started by the retailers themselves, like all the other shopping “holidays.” Green Wednesday was actually started by you, the consumer! In 2016, a California-based cannabis delivery service noticed that sales went through the roof on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. As cannabis legalization continued to spread, so did the uptick in sales. 

Here are some theories about why sales have historically surged the day before Thanksgiving: 

• Store closures- Many dispensaries take an extended break for the holidays, closing on Thursday and Friday, with some closed through the weekend to give their staff a much-deserved break. As a result, customers tend to stock up ahead of the long break. 

• Holiday stress- The holidays can be an extremely stressful time for many, particularly those who don’t have the best relationship with their family (or don’t have anyone to celebrate the holiday with at all.) A 2022 survey found that 24% of participants planned to consume cannabis on Thanksgiving to help them better tolerate family drama. 

• Traveling- The holidays mean travel, and for those traveling from a state where cannabis is illegal to a state where it’s legal for recreational use, visiting a dispensary may be a non-negotiable stop during their trip. 
• Early Christmas shopping- Black Friday is a great time to knock out some early Christmas shopping, and the same applies to Green Wednesday. Dispensaries will often mark down merchandise and accessories (ex: lighters, pipes, rolling papers), meaning you can find plenty of non-cannabis gifts on sale for your friends and loved ones.

Of course, now that almost every dispensary has massive Green Wednesday sales, customers flock to cannabis stores to take advantage of the deals. 

Green Wednesday: The Stats 

Curious about how Green Wednesday sales stack up to sales during the rest of the year? Here are some interesting statistics from 2023: 

• Data from Weedmaps reveals that Green Wednesday saw a 42% surge in total order volume compared to the typical Wednesday in November. 
• On this day, orders for edibles experienced an 81% increase, outpacing traditional flower sales. In fact, in 2023, edibles accounted for 60% of the top 10 best-selling products. 
• Jane Technologies, which tracks both recreational and medical cannabis sales, reported an 18.12% year-over-year rise in recreational cannabis sales on Green Wednesday 2023.
• The best-selling categories on the day included flower ($3.3 million), vape products ($2.5 million), edible ($1.2 million), pre-rolls ($963,000), and extracts ($448,500.)
• Additionally, Jane Technologies provided a breakdown of sales by state, showing that the highest recreational sales came from Illinois, followed by California, New Jersey, Maryland, and Washington.

How to Take Advantage of Green Wednesday 

Although you can certainly walk into any cannabis dispensary on Green Wednesday and find great deals, it’s always best to prepare ahead of a major shopping event. Here are some things you can do now that can help you better capitalize on Green Wednesday:

Subscribe to Newsletters 

Many cannabis brands and dispensaries promote their sales in newsletters in the days and weeks leading up to the event. Some might even include special codes in the newsletters that are exclusive to their subscribers. Plus, subscribing to a newsletter never hurts- you’ll be the first to know about new products, special sales, and fun events.

Make a Wishlist 

Make a list, and check it twice! Be sure to include items that are commonly on sale during Green Wednesday, like flower and CBD products. You can give your favorite dispensary a visit or a call ahead of time to see which products are likely to be discounted. They probably won’t be able to give you specific product names but should be able to guide you to the proper category. 

Review Online Menus 

Most dispensaries have their menu available to the public online, so you can see which products are in stock and available for purchase. One important thing to note, though, is that many Green Wednesday sales only happen in-store and in-person, and the prices you see on online menus probably won’t include any discounts. 

Set a Budget 

As with anything, it’s important to set a budget and stick with it. It can be tempting to over-exert yourself financially, especially during the holiday season, but we always encourage our customers to buy responsibly. Set a budget and find products that fall within that budget. Our helpful budtenders will be more than happy to help you find products within your budget. 

Get There Early 

It’s always a good idea to get to Green Wednesday sales early. Not only does it guarantee entry, but getting there early means more products will be in stock. Just like those big screen TVs of Black Friday's past, inventory is limited, and it’s not uncommon for products to sell out. 

Celebrate Green Wednesday at CULTA 

This year, CULTA will be celebrating Green Wednesday with massive deals at all three of our locations. Whether you’re a seasoned cannabis consumer or are visiting a dispensary for the first time, Green Wednesday is guaranteed to be a fun event that’ll save you some cash.