This is lit. In time for 420 celebrations, Modesto is high among best cities ‘to get stoned’
Here’s some news sure to spark, ahem, some debate.
We’re not just blowing smoke when we tell you Modesto has been ranked 15th among the “Best Cities to Get Stoned” in America, according to a new promotional study of cities where adult-use recreational marijuana is legal.
The list was compiled by Lawnstarter, a Texas-based tech platform that helps people schedule outdoor home services. It regularly puts out regional studies based on city demographics and data for marketing purposes.
The rankings came out just in time for 420, the unofficial cannabis holiday celebrated by marijuana enthusiasts every April 20. In Modesto, the date will roll out with specials and other festivities at area recreational cannabis businesses.
Modesto was ranked just below Salem, Ore., and above Oakland on the national list. The top three cities for 2023 were San Francisco, Los Angeles and Denver, respectively. According to Lawnstarter, the list rankings were based on access, consumer satisfaction, convenience, lounging, entertainment and “munchie relief.”
You can ask your pot-smoking friends what “munchie relief” means, but for the study’s purposes, it denotes “fast food lover-friendliness” and “cheese lover-friendliness.”
Modesto’s pot industry also has attracted marijuana icons like Cheech Marin, who in March 2022 stopped by the north Modesto dispensary Jayden’s Journey. The comic, half of the comedy duo Cheech & Chong, known for “Up in Smoke” and other pot-centric movies, signed autographs for hundreds of fans as part of the cannabis retailer’s Epilepsy Awareness Day event.
Stanislaus County has about two dozen recreational cannabis dispensaries, with locations in Modesto, Turlock, Riverbank, Oakdale, Ceres, Patterson and more.
Recreational marijuana use has been legal in California since 2016, when voters passed Proposition 64, legalizing its use for all adults 21 and older and sale through licensed dispensaries. Cannabis retailers have been able to sell to recreational users legally since 2018 in Stanislaus County.
Modesto even has promoted its cannabis industry through Visit Modesto, the city’s convention and visitors bureau. In 2021, it launched MoTown CannaPass, a tourism campaign aimed at getting people to stop, shop and enjoy the Central Valley’s cannabis businesses.
The campaign helps cannabis-curious travelers find legal marijuana businesses and experiences in the area. The free digital campaign, accessible via mobile phone and online, also offers perks, specials, discounts and giveaways to those who sign up.
For those wanting to celebrate Modesto’s rankings responsibly, remember that to legally enjoy cannabis in California, you must be age 21 or older. You also cannot smoke or ingest marijuana in public. And under no circumstances should you drive or operate any kind of vehicle during or after using marijuana, as it is illegal and could definitely harsh your vibe by landing you in jail with a DUI.
