Although 420 has lost some of its counter-culture glamour since legalization, it is still a fun day to celebrate the simple pleasures of cannabis, if that’s your bag. To that end, here’s our list of the top dispensaries in midtown Toronto for all your celebratory needs.
CanaCulture Cannabis Store, 914 Eglinton Ave. W.
Owned and operated by entrepreneur Zain Jaffery, CanaCulture was born during the pandemic and strives to offer the best cannabis experience for its customers. The dispensary offers high-quality cannabis and accessories, and seeks to cultivate a community of knowledge through customer service and industry understanding. The store is colourful and bright, designed to be inviting and encouraging for customers to explore.
Hi Class Cannabis, 527 Eglinton Ave. W.
Robert Cirasella and Kevin De Sousa have been friends since they were six, and Hi Class cannabis is their, ahem, joint business venture. Known for their cannabis banana bread, Hi Class was the first cannabis shop to open in midtown. Cirasella has a decade in the industry under his belt, and De Sousa’s Fortune 500 experience helps him manage the company’s day-to-day operations. Established in 2019, they opened a brick-and-mortar location during the pandemic and offer a wide range of cannabis products and accessories, available with same-day delivery. Complete with a neutral palette, exposed beams and clean lines (and, of course, green accents), the storefront is designed with modern shopping in mind.
Superette, 206 Dupont St.
With a location in the downtown core in addition to their midtown outpost, Superette offers a traditional retail experience as well as an online store, bringing comfort and ease to cannabis (and merch) shopping. The dispensary offers a wide array of cannabis flavours and, as an added bonus, the brand gives back to the community: Superette hosts in-store food drives, plants fruits and vegetables on the company farm, and offers staff time to local food banks, helping to sort non-perishable items. And, 70% of the company’s employees identify as women, creating an inclusive backdrop to one of the most immersive and fun dispensaries in the industry.
Day ‘N’ Nite Cannabis, 407 Bloor St. E.
Minimalist design is the name of the game at Day ‘N’ Nite Cannabis, previously known as Cannabis on Bloor, where products are stocked on industrial metal shelves and surrounded by framed, brightly coloured product ads. Offering accessories and goodies like bath bombs, edibles, concentrates and more, Day ‘N’ Nite organizes their website in order to offer up the most popular products and staff picks front and centre — though shopping by brand is also an option. Simplicity is key at this dispensary, and it rings through the brand’s design, website and philosophy.
Hunny Pot Cannabis Co., 2103 Yonge St.
This cannabis company was the first to legally open its doors in the city of Toronto. Now, with locations across the GTA, the Hunny Pot offers products like oils, concentrates, extracts and capsules as well as traditional offerings like edibles, flowers and pre-rolls. The company also sells their own line of merch and branded accessories. Delivery of the extensive menu is available throughout the GTA and, in many cases, same-day delivery is available, too. Each store is designed with honeycomb details and faux-grass walls, evoking a beehive vibe. Details like murals and graffiti walls tailored to each location across the GTA help add personality to each location, but come together to create an upscale, approachable vibe that’s certainly design-forward. The Hunny Pot has some famous fans, too, including Sean Paul.
Tokyo Smoke,94 Cumberland St.
This dispensary chain is one of the largest in the country with 30 locations in the province, as well as outposts in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Shoppers can browse the online selection by intent, and check out guides for activities and moods. Education is paramount at Tokyo Smoke, with their website offering an in-depth look at a variety of products, accessories and strains to help customers make an informed decision about each purchase. In addition to the usual product offerings, extracts, topicals sprays and beverages are available for purchase online and in-store. The newly launched click-and-collect service for customers is COVID-friendly and helps reduce the amount of time customers spend in-store.