The legal marijuana industry in Maine is a huge money-maker. During 2020, the state’s medical cannabis market generated $266 million in sales, according to data from Maine Revenue Services.
The recreational market is also experiencing growth. Last year, adult-use cannabis sales in Maine nearly doubled to $159 million.
Hi-Lo
Hi-Lo isn’t a chi-chi supermarket, geared for adventurous Anglo cooks who frequent exotic co-ops and drool over the latest “The Naked Chef.” This is an insider’s take on Caribbean cuisine. It caters to Cubans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Haitians, Jamaicans, Colombians, Ecuadorians, Mexicans, and other Spanish speakers.
The store’s shelves are stocked with everything from ripe guineos verde green bananas to Dominican olive oil, dulce de leche candy, and Embajador chocolate. A crew of painters painted a massive mural last summer that reflects the store’s Caribbean flavor.
The first Hi-Lo opened in 1950 in Canning’s corner of Abercromby Street and Marine Square (now Independence Square). In the years to come, the concept would spread throughout Trinidad and become a major force in the country’s shopping culture.
Sweet Dirt
Sweet Dirt offers super premium cannabis and cannabis-infused products to its Maine and out-of-state adult use customers (21+). A focus on the creation of its proprietary soils and organic growing practices has earned it the MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmer and Gardeners Association) ‘Certified Clean Cannabis’ designation achieved by fewer than 1% of all licensed growers.
This upscale, boutique-style dispensary features a thoughtfully curated mix of top-shelf artisanal cannabis and ancillary products from Maine-based artisans, plus sweet merch and apparel. Sweet Dirt’s Rockland store is located in mid-coast Maine and features a broad selection of premium flower, pre-rolls, edibles, concentrates, carts, CBD and more.
The company has been a leading supplier of medicinal cannabis to patients in the state for several years and is one of just a few companies in the state with multiple conditional licenses spanning manufacturing, retail, and cultivation. CEO Jim Henry says the company is ready to ride the wave of medicinal marijuana interest that has increased as a result of the federal government’s announcement of its intent to legalize recreational sales.
A Street
If you love Maine’s rocky coastline, stoic lighthouses and the state’s storied industrial history, then you can’t miss a trip to this gorgeous state. And when you do, don’t forget to pack your weed – marijuana is legal in Maine for both medical and recreational use.
You can get your weed in various forms at dispensaries, including flower, pre-rolled joints and edibles. Budtenders can help you choose which products best suit your needs.
For example, if you have a chronic illness or an injury that requires a painkiller, then you might want to try an oil, or tincture, which you can drop under your tongue. If you’re looking for a product that offers a more focused effect, then a vaporizer cartridge may be a better choice.
In addition to selling marijuana, many of Maine’s dispensaries also sell a variety of other health and wellness products. Whether you’re interested in a new diet or want to treat your insomnia, there’s likely a product that can fit your lifestyle.
