Green Economy

BY DAVID LERNER PHOTOS BY JANE PHILLIPS

Taos’s adult-use recreational and medical cannabis scene is an embarrassment of riches. The town currently boasts eight dispensaries. That’s roughly one headshop per 800 heads — twice as many dispensaries as pharmacies!

At each dispensary, you’ll be greeted by a friendly staffer (bring your ID), and the highest quality indica, sativa, hybrid and CBD flower and pre rolls, much of which is produced by local growers. You’ll also find a huge selection of vape pens and cartridges, edibles, tinctures, topicals and accessories.

Although it’s impossible to go wrong, subtle differences set some dispensaries apart from others. Likewise, some customers are loyal to one store or a favorite budtender, while others prefer to sample the wares more omnivorously. Either way, here’s a quick guide to procuring your supply in the Sangre de Cristo high country.

Established in 2009, Rocky Mountain Cannabis began as a medical dispensary in Cañon City, Colo. Today, Rocky Mountain Cannabis operates nine Colorado stores and 10 locations in New Mexico. The Taos store is particularly well-stocked in the edible department. Many customers recommend the Wyld gummies, available in CBN, CBD and CBG formulations. Also, be sure to join their rewards program, and check their website for daily specials. Rocky Mountain Cannabis’ high-energy and knowledgeable staff is another plus for this convenient, plaza-adjacent dispensary.

Southwest Cannabis is Taos’s oldest dispensary in operation. It is also the only outlet to weather the transition from medical-only to recreational marijuana programs. Medical patients and recreational users alike will reap the benefits of Southwest Cannabis’ trailblazing status in the business. Its staff consistently receives raves for their professional, easygoing manner (customers single out budtenders Marcos and Yesenia as especially knowledgeable). Reviewers also praise the store’s “on-point” flower, “easy in, easy out” service and “great distillates.”

OSO Cannabis Company wants to be your new favorite stop for clean, New Mexico grown weed. Established here in the land of enchantment, OSO offers top-shelf edibles, flower and other goodies to medical and recreational customers. The store also provides resources for those seeking a medical card. Be sure to check their informative website for a comprehensive list of medical conditions that THC is effective in treating. At OSO, you can be rest assured that all products meet the highest standards of quality.

Dreamz Dispensary, located on the southside behind Subway, is a strong favorite with locals for their fantastic selection of potent flower, edibles and personalized service. In fact, many Google reviewers claim that Dreamz is the best dispensary in town. Budtenders Chris and Debbie receive top marks, as does the physical location’s clean, easy to navigate layout. So whether you’re a seasoned toker, or just seeking something nonpsychoactive for pain relief, Dreamz has you covered. Customers who enroll in their rewards program receive four grams of weed free after earning 300 points.

A satellite shop to Southwest Cannabis, Taos Cannabis Company, formerly the Co-op, is a locally sourced retailer serving the recreation and medical cannabis communities of New Mexico. Their spacious, bright and clean showroom is packed to the gills with primo herb, edibles and every other conceivable method of THC and cannabinoid delivery. “Rachelle is the

Please Consume Responsibly | For use only by adults 21 and older | Keep out of reach of children | This product is not approved by the FDA to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. FDA has not evaluated this product for safety, effectiveness, and quality | Do not drive a motor vehicle or operate machinery while under the influence of cannabis | There may be long term adverse health effects from consumption of cannabis, including additional risks for women who are or may become pregnant or are breastfeeding.