Why the Midwest is the Perfect Destination for Your Next Cannabis-infused Adventure
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Pack your bags and bug spray; Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes (and nearly as many opportunities to try cannabinoid-infused beverages) are calling! This year, instead of planning the typical coastal vacation, might I suggest visiting the Twin Cities in the heart of the Midwest?
Located in the beautiful state of Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul - often referred to as the Twin Cities - is the birthplace of a fully-integrated cannabis culture with THC-infused beverages at the center. With a diverse and progressive population, a lively art and music scene, and hundreds of breweries dabbling in THC-infusion, the Twin Cities has become the poster child for successfully integrating edibles and drinkables into mainstream retail stores. Now, you can buy (and, in many cases, enjoy on-site) canna beverages in restaurants, bars, hotels, grocery co-ops, theaters, art festivals, concert venues, and more.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to experience it yourself, you might be thinking, “There’s no way you can get a THC-bev or edible in all of those places… right?” But I’m here to confirm the rumors are true. I’ve visited these spots and can confirm the experience is euphoric, exciting, and incredibly… normal.
The best part? The sky hasn’t fallen. Crime hasn’t increased. And people aren’t suddenly going unhinged and running through the streets with machetes! It’s almost as if cannabis and hemp have medical uses and near zero potential for abuse. But what do we know? We aren’t the ones scheduling drugs. *shrug!*
Here are 10 locations where you can (and should) experience cannabinoid-infused beverages in the Minnesota Wild:
All Photos Courtesy of Author Bri Smith
If you’re looking for “oh my god, that was absolutely delicious” food and a superb selection of cannabevs, you’ve come to the right place. Stanley’s NE, located in NE Minneapolis, is a cozy and eclectic local favorite that has fully embraced THC Beverages on its menu. This dog-friendly spot has a giant covered outdoor patio - or “pawtio” as they call it, arcade games, and live music every Wednesday night. And that’s not all! Stanley’s is one of several restaurants under the Craft & Crew Hospitality family that serves cannabevs for consumption on-site (and take-home).
All Photos Courtesy of Author Bri Smith
Part “Flower bar” part event space, Natreum in St. Louis Park, MN, is a blossoming cultural hot-spot for the canna-curious. Between their vast selection of beverages, edibles, and tinctures, and their summer canna events, comedy shows, and vendor pop-up activations, Natreum has become a go-to for locals and the growing local canna professional community. After you purchase your bevs, you’re welcome to take a seat at the “flower bar” or head out to enjoy them in the humid Minnesota weather.
All Photos Courtesy of Author Bri Smith
The Dabbler Depot is like something I’ve never seen before. Part liquor store, part coffee shop, part infused-beverage depot, this mecca of beverages carries over 250 SKUs of cannabinoid-infused drinks - and a slew of edibles, too! They host weekly samplings, so you can try before you buy in their studio space built right into the shop - just look at that lighting! Once you’ve made your purchase, head to the massive donut in front of the building for a photo op.
All Photos Courtesy of Author Bri Smith
Located in the Longfellow neighborhood at 3822 E Lake Street in MPLS, Milkweed puts invisible illness at the forefront of their offerings. With their selection of celiac-friendly functional beverages, house-made nut milks, herbal elixirs, and THC beverages, those who are looking for a wellness-focused option will feel right at home. To date, It’s the only shop I’ve encountered that crafts mocktails/functional bevs from existing THC-infused drinks.
All Photos Courtesy of Author Bri Smith
Looking for a spot where you can peruse intricate works of blown glass pieces that cost more than your car and buy a delicious infused bev simultaneously? Head to Legacy Glassworks in Uptown. First, check out the insane works of art by local glassblowers—some cost as much as $8,000 – and you’ll see why. Aside from insane artwork, you’ll find other consumption tools, devices, edibles, and drinks galore.
All Photos Courtesy of Author Bri Smith
It’s not every day that you check into a hotel and are greeted with drink tickets for an infused bev. Unless that day is today and you’re visiting the Moxy Hotel in Uptown. For out-of-towners, it’s the first opportunity to see just how normalized cannabevs are becoming in Minnesota. Check into your room, grab a cannabev at the bar, relax in the eclectic lounge areas, walk the extremely walkable Uptown area with the perfect cannabinoid-fueled buzz, then go back to your gorgeously styled room for some shut-eye. This is what staying in a hotel should feel like.
All Photos Courtesy of Author Bri Smith
Nestled in the charming Minneapolis suburb, Uptown, World Street Kitchen crafts dishes inspired by flavors from rich cultures that represent the diversity of the Twin Cities and others across the globe. To enhance the flavors of this incredible food, grab one of several THC bev options on the menu first and drink half or all of it - depending on your preferred dose. Once you start to feel the euphoria set in, dive into your taste bud-explosion of a meal. Follow it up with a MilkJam ice cream, pie, or cake. My personal menu suggestion? The Turk Hummus, Caramelized Brussels Sprouts, or Red Chicken Curry Bangkok Burrito. Chef’s kiss.
All Photos Courtesy of Author Bri Smith
This adorable shop is not just home to a trendy boutique gift shop and a salon offering jewelry, accessories, and personal care products. They are the first completely non-alcoholic beverage shop that specializes in alcohol alternatives. In a region where alcohol is a cultural expectation at every gathering, alcoholism is rampant and sober living can be challenging. Marigold aims to lessen the burden. Their variety of non-alcoholic beverage options, cannabinoid-infused beverages, and zero-proof versions of your favorite wine or spirit is impressive, and inspiring. Some say a jack-of-all-trades is a master-of-none, but Marigold Minneapolis begs to differ. I happen to agree.
All Photos Courtesy of Author Bri Smith
If you’re looking for a truly upscale dining experience with incredible Italian fare, delicious canna beverages with your meal, and a whole beverage depot to explore, look no further than EaTo in Downtown MPLS. Their culinary focus on traditional Italian dishes, signature creations like cheese pizza puffs, or the “funghi pizzettes” paired with their curated selection of wines, cocktails, mocktails, and flavorful zero-proof refreshments is truly something one has to experience for themselves. Dine in, dine out on the patio, order delivery, plan an event, join their wine club, explore their bottle shop, or even order fresh-to-frozen meals you can save for later. They’ve thought of it all.
All Photos Courtesy of Author Bri Smith
In recent years, the proliferation of food halls has made for great tourist attractions and provided groups with a fun way of accommodating the unique preferences of everyone involved. The sophisticated older sibling of a food court, food collectives/food halls curate a variety of top-notch eateries under one roof to offer guests a one-of-a-kind experience. This year, I had the opportunity to experience Graze Provisions and Libation’s 4/20-themed activation, where each restaurant designed dishes to cater to the munchies. Cannabinoid-infused beverage brands were present for sampling activations and direct-to-consumer sales on the coveted stoner holiday. I loved the thoughtful approach to seating with well-designed lounge zones and attention to atmosphere. 10/10 would recommend.
Where Minnesota Nice Meets Cannabis On Ice
My recent adventures exploring the Twin Cities have uncovered something poignant. Minnesota has found the secret key to de-stigmatizing cannabis and hemp through beverage and unabridged access in non-dispensary retail spaces. While many will come around to consuming bud, many won’t. Beverages are a familiar and celebrated modality for enjoying social atmospheres and beyond.
The discrete nature, the fast onset, the limitless flavor profiles, and now widespread accessibility in the Twin Cities make cannabevs a natural and convenient option for consuming cannabis and hemp. It just makes sense. And that’s not something you hear much of these days.
Whether you’re meeting up with long-lost college buddies in the North Loop, visiting your tiny hometown for a giant family reunion, brunching it up with your besties in Uptown, or watching the game with the crew at local dive bar, canna-beverages will be there to brighten the activity without the need for a term like “puke and rally.”
When the Vikings lose to the Packers this year, Minnesotans will have more options than just beer to cry into. Sorry, I had to. Cheers, my friends. To a bright, euphoric, cannabinoid-infused future in Minnesota and beyond.
