Green Wednesday 2024, the Cannabis Black Friday

Cannabis culture has reached such "highs" that it now enjoys its own annual festivities and holidays. The legendary event of 4/20, which occurs yearly on April 20th, has widespread recognition among marijuana consumers all over the world. However, a newer holiday, known as Green Wednesday, has emerged that closely mimics Black Friday—i.e. the day after Thanksgiving when customers enjoy staggering discounts on commercial goods.

Green Wednesday has quickly gained traction as a highlight in the cannabis calendar, offering smokers and growers the opportunity to snatch up massive discounts on everything from extracts, buds, and merch to seeds and growing supplies. If you’ve never heard of Green Wednesday before, now’s your chance to become familiar with this event. Get the bulk of your cannabis-related shopping done on this day, and you’ll save a significant amount of money throughout the year. Continue reading to learn more about Green Wednesday, its origins, and how to make the most of it as a cannabis consumer and cultivator.

What Is Green Wednesday?

Otherwise known as Weed Wednesday, this cannabis-centric version of Black Friday falls on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and started to gain traction around 2017. It might seem like a weed lover’s attempt to shoehorn in a parallel holiday close to Black Friday itself. However, the origins of the occasion are more coincidental than contrived.

First and foremost, the demand for cannabis surges at certain points in the year. The celebrations around 4/20 certainly cause a market spike, but it turns out a lot of people also like to blaze up at gatherings around Thanksgiving. As such, many cannabis users who have access to dispensaries stock up on buds before the holiday to see them through the Thanksgiving period.

Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday of November, and the vast majority of weed dispensaries shutter their stores from closing time on Wednesday until the following Monday. To avoid running out of weed over this period, hordes of customers flock to their nearest retailer. Noticing this pattern, and in an attempt to boost sales as much as possible, many outlets started offering huge savings across their ranges in the days leading up to the holiday, giving rise to the phenomenon of Green Wednesday.

Why Green Wednesday Matters for Cannabis Enthusiasts and Growers

Green Wednesday has amassed quite some significance among smokers and growers alike. Many dispensaries, cannabis clubs, and seed banks have adopted this trend in recent years, meaning shoppers can save big not just on buds, but also a range of growing supplies, cannabis seeds, smoking equipment, and much more. Overall, Weed Wednesday has become an important day for cannabis lovers for several reasons.

• Holiday levity: Many people find themselves stressed around Thanksgiving and the holiday season as a whole. The pressure of preparing meals, shopping for family and friends, and organising gatherings can quickly take away from the magic. Many people find that a steady supply of THC and terpenes helps them to wind down and live in the moment.
• Stocking up: Because most dispensaries and cannabis outlets are closed on and around Thanksgiving, Weed Wednesday offers consumers a final chance to get everything they need before it becomes inaccessible—at a fraction of the price.
• Gifting: It's common for people to exchange gifts during Thanksgiving to show appreciation for their hosts and loved ones. Popular options include food and wine, homewares, gift baskets, and flowers. If your family and friends have a particular penchant for cannabis, Green Wednesday gives you the chance to treat them to an otherwise more-expensive bag of buds, glassware, or genetics.
• Unmatched deals: During Green Wednesday sales, products generally drop to their lowest price of the year (alongside 4/20, of course). This gives growers the chance to stock up for the following growing season, and it allows consumers to buy in bulk so they have an ample stash to get them through the winter.

Green Wednesday vs 4/20: How Do They Compare?

When it comes to Weed Wednesday versus 4/20, how do the two celebrations differ? Well, while you’ll certainly find some jaw-dropping deals on buds, seeds, and other cannabis products during 4/20, this event has a greater cultural significance among the cannabis community than Weed Wednesday, which is primarily a day centred around commerce.

Every year on April 20th, millions of smokers gather around the world to blaze up—either as a celebration of cannabis legalization or as an act of civil disobedience in regions that still prohibit the herb. Over the years, 4/20 has also become an attractive date for event organisers to put on festivals, shows, and other fun gatherings. As mentioned, Green Wednesday is mostly about the deals. It serves both consumers and the burgeoning cannabis industry by offering bargains and increased profits, but it still has some emotional significance given its closeness to the Thanksgiving holiday.

But Weed Wednesday and 4/20 aren’t the only annual cannabis-themed holidays. July 10th, or 7/10, has also picked up steam in recent years as a day to celebrate cannabis concentrates. Why this day, specifically? Because 710 spells the word “OIL” upside-down.

Planning Your Cannabis Purchases for the Holidays

Participating in Green Wednesday means you’ll save a bunch of cash, but it also means cutting things rather close. Dispensaries and other brick-and-mortar stores will have big queues for most of the day before shutting until the following week. Avoid leaving your shopping to the last minute; get to where you’re going early to ensure you don’t miss out.

You should also set out with a clear list of desired purchases. You’ll likely encounter some irresistible bargains you weren’t planning for, but make sure you’re not forgetting anything, otherwise you’ll have to join the back of a long queue after your initial spending spree.

If you’re a grower, take stock of your current supplies and consider what you need the most. While you can grab fertiliser and soil fairly cheaply year-round, use this opportunity to invest in grow tents, lights, vents, and seeds at big discounts.

Growing Tips for the Holiday Season

You don’t have to wait until next spring to put your discounted Green Wednesday purchases to good use. With a simple grow tent, lighting rig, and a few other essentials, you can grow weed indoors during the autumn and winter to keep the yields rolling in. Consider the likes of Lemon Shining Silver Haze and Amnesia Haze for the biggest indoor yields possible. If you want to get your hands on a harvest even sooner, then sow Quick One or Hyperion F1 to obtain a stash in as little as nine weeks.

Celebrating Green Wednesday and Danksgiving

Don’t rely on dispensaries being open on Thanksgiving. Instead, enjoy massive savings at dispensaries and seed banks on Green Wednesday! View this as the cannabis Black Friday and grab the best deals while you can. Then, consider how to incorporate your discounted buds into your celebrations.

If you’re hosting a party with many cannabis lovers in attendance, consider cooking up some THC-infused foods, from savoury sauces to complement main courses to delicious ice creams and cakes for dessert. You’ll also find it hard to come across a weed user who’ll turn down a cannabis margarita. Grab what you need at a huge discount, put a cannabis-themed evening together, invite over some epic company, and enjoy your Thanksgiving.

FAQ: Green Wednesday and Cannabis Holiday Shopping

Have a happy Green Wednesday!