‘Green Wednesday’ Is Becoming Thanksgiving’s Other Big Binge

The Washington Post and CBS News contributed to this report.

While most Americans were cramming grocery carts with turkey, pie crusts and cranberry sauce, a growing number were stocking up on something else for the holiday: weed.

At RISE, a busy cannabis dispensary in Silver Spring, Maryland, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving — now widely dubbed “Green Wednesday” — was shaping up to be its biggest day of the year. Customers streamed in with a very specific mission: add a little THC to the Thanksgiving menu.

Edibles for the in-laws. Pre-rolls for the traditional post-dinner walk. Maybe a special batch of infused cookies for that late-night cousin hangout.

“People getting stocked up for Thanksgiving, huh?” one shopper said, eyeing the long line of pickup stations.

“Yeah, you know, cousins coming into town, family getting together, people needing to relax a little,” said E. Friday, a personal care specialist at RISE who goes by their first initial and uses they/them pronouns. “You know how it goes,” they added with a laugh.

As more states legalize cannabis and the stigma fades, Green Wednesday has quietly grown into one of the biggest sales days of the year for dispensaries — in some places, rivaling or even beating 4/20.

Instead of just hitting the liquor store before heading to Grandma’s, more people are pairing their stuffing and mashed potatoes with gummies, vapes and flower. Industry insiders say the rush is driven by the same basic dynamic that fuels Thanksgiving itself: family, stress and a long weekend.

At RISE, the merchandise wasn’t just moving — it was flying.

One of the hottest items was an exclusive “Queen Cola”: a long stem topped with 14 grams of premium flower cut from the very top of the plant, where resin is most concentrated. Priced at $100, it was marketed as a doorbuster treat for serious enthusiasts.

General manager Rick Gizzi said the limited batch didn’t last long.

“It sold out in 15 minutes,” he said. “People knew exactly what they were coming in for.”

On the other side of the country, at Urbana Weed Dispensary in Oakland, California, the scene was similar: a steady, pre-holiday rush of shoppers grabbing last-minute “provisions.”

“What goes better with Thanksgiving than some pre-rolls?” joked customer Cody Larkin, who lives nearby and stopped in while off work for the holiday.

“I can eat, but this is just going to… it’s like a performance-enhancing drug,” he said, catching himself. “Not drug, sorry — performance-enhancing plant.”

Green Wednesday was new to him — he’d seen jokes online about sneaking out to smoke with your favorite cousins, but didn’t realize dispensaries were now fully embracing the bit with signage, promos and events.

“It’s fun because it’s always been a meme on the internet of going to smoke with your favorite cousins,” Larkin said. “It’s cool that they’re leaning into that. And I love that they’re fostering more people to come in, because the higher you are, the nicer you are — that’s what I say.”

Urbana’s owner, Marty Higgins, said what started as a small bump before Thanksgiving has grown into a full-blown cannabis holiday.

“Over the last six, seven years, the day before Thanksgiving has grown into a holiday in itself,” he said. “Green Wednesday, Green Week — it’s developed into our busiest days that rival 4/20.”

For some customers, Higgins said, cannabis is becoming an alternative to alcohol at family gatherings.

Rather than pounding cocktails or dealing with a rough hangover, people are picking up low-dose drinks or edibles to take the edge off tense dinners or long visits.

“The day before Thanksgiving is when everyone is back in town, seeing family, reconnecting with old friends,” he said. “For a lot of people, cannabis just feels like a better fit than booze.”

Dispensaries have noticed and are leaning in with holiday discounts, bundle deals and even events. Urbana, for example, runs a lounge where it hosts Green Wednesday happenings.

Chicago resident Ayon Carter, who grew up in Oakland, stopped by the lounge while home for the holiday and tried one of their infused drinks.

“This is a cucumber drink — I can’t remember exactly what it’s called,” she said, holding up her glass. “I know this is the cannabis blend right here. But it’s super refreshing. It’s really good. It’s nice.”

Larkin, meanwhile, said Green Wednesday was just the kickoff.

“I have plans to use these tonight and tomorrow and probably Friday as well,” he said, clutching his purchases. “I’ll be golfing Friday morning and one of these will make it on the course with me.”

For dispensaries from Maryland to California, that kind of planning is exactly why Green Wednesday has become such a big deal: it’s not just about one big dinner. It’s about an entire long weekend of family, food, leftovers — and, increasingly, legal weed.