Legalized cannabis can be found in a wide variety of places these days. From major music festivals to Neil Young‘s U.S. citizenship application, the plant once claimed by old, racist men with too much legislative power as “The Devil’s Lettuce” is now sold and consumed legally (and enjoyably) in 11 states across America, in addition to the District of Columbia.
So it makes for a nice surprise to hear that the first recreational cannabis dispensary recently opened in the Haight-Ashbury, only 50 years or so after bands like the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane called the San Francisco neighborhood their home in the mid- to late- 1960s.
Related: Grateful Dead Play “Human Be-In” At San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park On This Day In 1967
Fans and cannabis consumers read that correctly—the “Hashbury,” as its infamously known, finally has its first-ever legal cannabis store following the opening of Berner’s on Haight over the weekend. Located at 1685 Haight Street, Berner’s is just a few short blocks away from the Dead’s former group house at 710 Ashbury. The adult-use, licensed cannabis retail store opened its doors for the first time on Saturday (December 21st) under the city’s Social Equity Program, which takes action on addressing the damage done by the Government on communities of color during the “War on Drugs” era since the 1980s.
“Cannabis legalization isn’t coming to the Haight-Ashbury; no, the laws are finally coming to the Haight-Ashbury’s way of thinking, of valuing healing, freedom of expression, and social equity,” Vallie Brown, a local community official said in a statement with Saturday’s celebratory opening. “It’s exciting and fitting that San Francisco’s first social equity cannabis store will be right here in the Haight, and that it will be led by a man like Shawn Richard who has spent decades in selfless service to our community.”
The Dead had their own fair share of issues with local law enforcement in their early years thanks to the involvement of drugs like cannabis. With the first recreational cannabis store now open in the Dead’s old stomping grounds, one has to wonder whether or not Jerry Garcia will get the last laugh. The estate for the late guitarist recently announced the forthcoming launch of its Garcia-inspired cannabis, which now could very easily be sold right down the street from his former residence.
What a time to be alive.
The first recreational cannabis dispensary in the Haight-Ashbury, Berner’s, just opened this morning at 1685 Haight. Only took about half a century from the birth of hippiedom in this neighborhood. pic.twitter.com/WrGDNN5450
— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) December 21, 2019
[H/T PR Newswire]