Elevated Experiences

Think cannabis can’t be sophisticated? Think again!

While cannabis is legal to buy and possess, it’s not necessarily legal to consume in public spaces. Luckily there are plenty of ways to enjoy indoors.

The first dispensary to have a licensed consumption and entertainment space, Root’d in the 510 has a decked-out 7,000-square-foot lounge specifically for rolling, packing, eating, and dabbing cannabis. Beyond luxurious seating, the lounge also provides video game consoles, multiple TVs, snacks, and a regular roster of events. For fine dining with mind-blowing deliciousness, try the Enlightened Dinner Series at Claremont Club and Spa. Truly a feast for the senses, this four-course, seasonally-inspired meal pairs music, food, wine, and weed together for a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Another way to consume cannabis is with Aminah

“Chef Mimi” Robinson-Briscoe’s Black Food and Wine Experience cannabis-infused meals. Robinson-Briscoe grew up in Oakland with parents who grew their own produce and smoked pot. While she’s not a consumer herself (though she does enjoy a topical now and then), she saw from a young age how cannabis contributed to community well-being. She began hosting dank dinners in early 2021.

“Growing up in Oakland and the Bay Area has given me the opportunity to explore food and lifestyle and people in a very unique way,” she says. “When you think of Oakland, you think of food and cannabis. Everyone is excited to have those shared experiences.”

DID YOU KNOW? Despite California’s recreational legalization in 2016, the legal cannabis industry was primarily made up of white-owned businesses (81%, in fact). Oakland entrepreneurs of color pushed the city to fund the Cannabis Equity Program, which lowers financial barriers to entry and provides mentoring for applicants affected by the war on drugs.

Strain Game

Breeders are constantly developing new strains, but they generally fall into one of three categories: indica, sativa, and hybrid. An indica tends to feel like a relaxing body high; a sativa tends to feel more cerebral; and a hybrid has a bit of both.

Enjoy Responsibly

Many dispensaries have dedicated lounges where you can safely and comfortably toke up and learn more about accessories like vaporizers and bongs. Even OG stoners can appreciate dedicated space to blow clouds.

First In Flight

In the long and eversprouting lore of cannabis, many point to Los Angeles and San Francisco as its cultural and professional nexuses. It’s true that activists pushed the first piece of state legislation legalizing medical marijuana in San Francisco. But just as many waves have been made across the bay in The Town. Oakland has just as much history, good green, and culture to offer visitors, as well as experiences all its own.