Recreational cannabis is booming in NM — here’s what’s on offer in Taos
By David Lerner
Taos’s adult-use recreational and medical cannabis scene is an embarrassment of riches. The town currently boasts eight dispensaries. That’s roughly one headshop per 800 heads — twice as many dispensaries as pharmacies!
At each dispensary, you’ll be greeted by a friendly staffer (bring your ID), and the highest quality indica, sativa, hybrid and CBD flower and pre rolls, much of which is produced by local growers. You’ll also find a huge selection of vape pens and cartridges, edibles, tinctures, topicals and accessories.
Although it’s impossible to go wrong, subtle difference set some dispensaries apart from others. Likewise, some customers are loyal to one store or a favorite budtender, while others prefer to sample the wares more omnivorously. Either way, here’s a quick guide to procuring your supply in the Sangre de Cristo high country.
Southwest Cannabis 1033a Paseo del Pueblo Sur 575-737-8960
Southwest Cannabis is Taos’s oldest dispensary in operation. It is also the only outlet to weather the transition from medical-only to recreational marijuana programs. Medical patients and recreational users alike will reap the benefits of Southwest Cannabis’ trailblazing status in the business. Its staff consistently receives raves for their professional, easygoing manner (customers single out budtenders Marcos and Yesenia as especially knowledgeable). Reviewers also praise the store’s “on-point” flower, “easy in, easy out” service and “great distillates.”
Taos Cannabis Company 925 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Suite C 575-758-2060
A satellite shop to Southwest Cannabis, Taos Cannabis Company, formerly the Co-op, is a locally sourced retailer serving the recreation and medical cannabis communities of New Mexico. Their spacious, bright and clean showroom is packed to the gills with primo herb, edibles and every other conceivable method of THC and cannabinoid delivery. “Rachelle is the best dispensary manager I’ve come across,” gushes one Google reviewer, but the service at Taos Cannabis Company is uniformly excellent. Although this is one of the more popular spots in town, you’ll rarely have to wait in line for top tier service.
Rocky Mountain Cannabis 101 Cam de La Placita 575-779-6573
Established in 2009, Rocky Mountain Cannabis began as a medical dispensary in Cañon City, Colo. Today, Rocky Mountain Cannabis operates nine Colorado stores and 10 locations in New Mexico. The Taos store is particularly well-stocked in the edible department. Many customers recommend the Wyld gummies, available in CBN, CBD and CBG formulations. Also, be sure to join their rewards program, and check their website for daily specials. Rocky Mountain Cannabis’ high-energy and knowledgeable staff is another plus for this convenient, plaza-adjacent dispensary.
OSO Cannabis Company 338 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Suite B 575-224-3054
OSO Cannabis Company wants to be your new favorite stop for clean, New Mexico grown weed. Established here in the land of enchantment, OSO offers top-shelf edibles, flower and other goodies to medical and recreational customers. The store also provides resources for those seeking a medical card. Be sure to check their informative website for a comprehensive list of medical conditions that THC is effective in treating. At OSO, you can rest assured that all products meet the highest standards of quality.
Dreamz Dispensary 1128 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Suite A 505-209-9298
Dreamz Dispensary, located on the southside behind Subway, is a strong favorite with locals for their fantastic selection of potent flower, edibles and personalized service. In fact, many Google reviewers claim that Dreamz is the best dispensary in town. Budtenders Chris and Debbie receive top marks, as does the physical location’s clean, easy to navigate layout. So whether you’re a seasoned toker, or just seeking something non-psychoactive for pain relief, Dreamz has you covered. Customers who enroll in their rewards program receive four grams of weed free after earning 300 points.
Taos Canyon Cannabis 216 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Suite A 575-224-2715
Another favorite with locals — and the best-reviewed dispensary in town overall — Taos Canyon Cannabis sets itself apart by offering a 10-percent discount to New Mexico residents and tax-inclusive eighths for $40. They also stock a variety of gourmet chocolates (go slow, they still pack a punch) and other edibles. Taos Canyon’s attractive merch, classy packaging and chill staff also deserve special mentions. Plus, dog lovers will be happy with the shop’s pet-inclusive environment.
Sierra Madre Med. Rec. 1350 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Suite C 575-776-6590
A hidden gem on the southside, veteran-owned Sierra Madre has a motherlode of cannabis products to get you up the mountain. Clients praise this spot for the “best prices in town, knowledgeable staff and super cool vibes.” Although the shop is tucked away in the very back of the parking lot of the southside plaza across from Sonic Drive-through, the takeaway from reviewers can be summed up as “hard to find, but definitely worth the experience.”
Bighorn Weed Co. shop@bighornweed.com 575-466-3283
Bighorn Weed Co. delivers the cleanest, sun-grown New Mexico weed throughout Taos County. Veteran-owned and family-operated in Taos, Big Horn’s dispensary (coming soon) will be housed in a restored blacksmith shop built in the 1930s. For now, the shop is the only licensed cannabis delivery servicing customers and patients. Check their website for easy ordering instructions and experience Big Horn’s brand new twist on the classic weed delivery service.
NEED TO KNOW: It’s illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to buy, possess or use adult-use cannabis in New Mexico, just like alcohol. For more information, visit rld.nm.gov/cannabis/for-consumers.