A Weed-Themed Restaurant Chain Opens in Wyoming — Where Pot Can Still Bring Jail Time

A weed-themed sandwich shop opened in Casper on Friday, bringing a dose of stoner humor to a state where marijuana possession can still land you in jail. Cheba Hut, an Arizona-based chain known for its cannabis-themed branding—pun-heavy sandwich names like “Kush” and “AK-47,” sizes called “nug,” “pinner,” and “blunt,” and a “toasted” sub theme designed for the munchies crowd—does not sell weed. That tension, says the local manager, is part of the draw.

“I feel the fact that it’s a little taboo is just enough draw for people that don’t know anything about Cheba Hut,” said general manager Allen Jennings. “And the people that know Cheba Hut—it’s a no-brainer for them.”

In neighboring Colorado, where recreational marijuana has been legal since 2012, the chain fits seamlessly. But Wyoming remains one of the most restrictive states in the country. Possession of fewer than 3 ounces is a misdemeanor carrying up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Anything more is a felony. There is no legal medical or recreational market, only narrow exceptions.

The Casper location, which opened Friday, is only the second in Wyoming; the first opened in Cheyenne last June. On opening day, the line stretched through the parking lot for the first hour. Strollers and babies mingled with guests sipping “Cottonmouth Cure” Kool-Aid. Inside, green walls and neon haze set the mood. A mural by Casper artist Zack Pullen blended Wyoming imagery—sunset prairie, covered wagons, bison, bighorn sheep, pistol-packing bonneted women—with surreal, smoke-wreathed symbolism. The words “Nug Life” glowed above the deli meats.

Customers waited roughly an hour to order and another hour to eat. Despite the wait, Jasmine Cole, a self-described “retired party girl,” said she liked what she saw—especially the artwork. “It’s unique, something different for Casper,” she said.

Not everyone is thrilled. “All I gotta say is, like, wow,” said retired reporter Tom Morton, who declined to attend. But several younger customers predicted the shop will do fine. “No matter how hard we try to reinforce marijuana laws in Wyoming, it’s always going to be here,” said ReiAnn Leal. “Regardless, there are still stoners.”

Jennings said Cheba Hut considers itself a venue, not just a sandwich shop. “We’re your host for a great laid-back experience with great food and great people,” he said. He emphasized community involvement, including sponsoring youth teams, and noted there has been “no pushback” from officials or other businesses.

For now, Cheba Hut is legal. It is a sandwich shop, not a dispensary. But it is also a brand built on cannabis culture planting itself in a state where cannabis remains illegal—and that irony, it seems, is exactly the point.