Y
ou don’t need to look far in Maine to see marijuana dispensaries popping
up. Since Mainers voted to legalize recreational use in 2016, the cannabis industry has been thriving state-wide, and is now beginning to appear in the most important party of people’s lives: their wedding. As marijuana use becomes normalized and the stigma begins to fade, more and more couples are finding ways to incorporate a little green into their wedding celebrations. PHOTOS: (OPPOSITE PAGE AND RIGHT) STEPHANIE LASHER; (BELOW) ISTOCKPHOTO.COM / ALEXANDRUM79
“Having marijuana at your wedding would be amazing because everyone has a good time, and no one gets sloppy,” said Karleena Stoner, a marijuana farmer. “You
to get the recreational sale, which would
strains to choose from, having a budtender
just might need more snacks!”
make marijuana available for purchase to
at your reception can help guide your guests
Morgan and Karleena Stoner are the
everyone, are frustrating, dispensaries like
looking to dabble in something new. Couples
proprietors of Stoner and Co., a licensed
Stoner and Co. are hopeful that recreational
can also work with their budtender to ensure
dispensary in Biddeford, Maine. Established
use is right around the corner.
that guests aren’t over-indulging, setting
in 2015, Stoner and Co. serves the area with
“As the recreational use opens up, the
Maine-grown marijuana from their dispen-
stigma will start to disappear, and people
sary. The couple says that so far they have
will realize how much better it is to use mari-
Budtenders can also work with the
had four inquiries into providing marijuana
juana than alcohol,” said Karleena Stoner.
bartender, and couples can collaborate on
for wedding celebrations, a number they
“No one gets belligerent smoking. It’s more
pairings for cocktails and strains, the same
expect will rise as recreational use be-
mellow and fun.”
way some couples may choose to pair
comes more readily available in Maine.
For couples looking to offer a way for
weeds
time frames for consumption and limits per guest.
whiskey and cigars. As not all guests may want to partake in cannabis,
A GROWING TREND IN WEDDING
some couples elect to have a smoking tent away from the party where guests can stop
EXPERIENCES
by and enjoy the selection.
BY ABIGAIL WORTHING
can be furnished with lounge
With a separate area, which seating, guests will be able
Mainers voted to approve
guests to imbibe, hiring a budtender can
to indulge in a secluded space to enjoy with
th e re cre -
help facilitate the use throughout the recep-
friends before rejoining the party.
ational use
tion. From checking IDs to making recom-
M o rg a n Sto n e r co m m e nte d th a t
of marijuana in
mendations, a budtender can be invaluable
contrary to popular belief, having a mari-
2016, and while there
if you are choosing to include marijuana in
juana reception as opposed to an alcohol
your celebration.
reception can end up being less expensive
have been legal hold-ups for recreational sales, the
“Any of our budtenders in-house would
than going with an open bar. According to an
decriminalization has led
be thrilled to serve at a wedding,” said
internal study at The Knot, the average cost
to a wide-spread surge
Karleena Stoner. “They are knowledgeable
of alcohol at a wedding is $2,300 and hosting
of dispensaries across the state. While resi-
about the product and are so familiar with
a cannabis bar could be considerably less.
dents and visitors can possess up to 2.5
each strain, they are able to guide guests to
ounces at a time, purchasing marijuana is
the right item for them.”
“If you were to host a marijuana bar, $1,000 would probably cover 100 guests,”
still only legal if the buyer has secured a
The different varieties, or strains, of
medical card through a licensed physician.
marijuana each have different qualities and
said Morgan Stoner. For couples looking for a way to incorpo-
While the legal obstacles on the state level
effects on the user. With so many different
rate cannabis into your wedding without REAL MAINE WEDDINGS JANUARY 2021 | 15