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What Is Green Wednesday? A Minneapolis Shopping Guide

What Is Green Wednesday? A Minneapolis Shopping Guide

Green Wednesday is the nickname for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and it has become one of the busiest cannabis shopping days of the year. In 2026, Green Wednesday falls on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Point-of-sale data from the cannabis analytics firm Headset shows dispensaries in the markets it tracks sold $114.0 million on Nov. 26, 2025, second only to 4/20 in Headset’s ranking of the biggest sales days. Retailers and shoppers treat it like a cannabis version of Black Friday, with longer lines and holiday discounts.

Key takeaways

  • Green Wednesday is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. In 2026, that’s Nov. 25.
  • The name was popularized around 2016 to 2017 as cannabis retail’s answer to Black Friday.
  • Headset’s latest ranking puts Green Wednesday second only to 4/20, at $114.0 million on Nov. 26, 2025, ahead of Black Friday’s $108.1 million.
  • 2026 is only Minnesota’s second Green Wednesday since state-licensed adult-use sales began on Sept. 16, 2025.
  • Minnesota law allows holiday discounts but bars cannabis businesses from giving away free samples or promotional gifts.

Why Green Wednesday became a holiday shopping day

Where the name came from

The term came into use around 2016 to 2017, and accounts differ on who coined it. By 2019, Headset was already measuring the day as a distinct sales spike, 40% above the average of the four prior Wednesdays. The name is a play on Black Friday, two days later.

Why the day before Thanksgiving?

The timing comes down to the calendar. Many adults have Thursday and Friday off, family visits fill the weekend, and some stores shorten their hours on Thanksgiving itself. Wednesday becomes the last easy day to shop before the holiday.

Green Wednesday by the numbers

Green Wednesday has ranked among the biggest cannabis sales days in every year of published data. Analytics firms measure the lift against different baselines, so the figures below show the trend rather than one comparable series.

Year Source What was measured Result
2019 Headset Sales vs. average of the four prior Wednesdays +40%
2021 Headset Sales vs. an average Wednesday +33%
2022 Headset Sales vs. an average Wednesday +48%
2023 Headset Sales vs. an average Wednesday +52%; edibles up 10.5%, beverages up 3%, concentrates down 11%
2024 BDSA Sales vs. non-holiday days +66%; 1.5x transactions per store; average discount 28.65%
2025 Headset Total sales in Headset-tracked markets $114.0 million, second only to 4/20 ($135.3 million); Black Friday was $108.1 million

Sources: Headset point-of-sale reports (January 2020, November 2024, October 2026); BDSA 2024 Green Wednesday insights (November 2025). Figures are industry estimates for the markets each firm tracks.

Minnesota’s market is still young. The OCM reported more than $250 million in combined adult-use and medical sales in the first year of state-licensed adult-use sales, about $150 million of it adult-use.

Statewide Green Wednesday figures for Minnesota haven’t been published. The OCM’s Cannabis Market Monitor is the place to watch for them.

Hours, purchase limits and ID on Green Wednesday

State law allows Minnesota dispensaries to sell from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. on weekdays, and cities can set shorter hours (Minn. Stat. 342.27, subd. 7). Sweetleaves North Loop is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Purchase limits don’t change for the holiday. A single transaction can include up to 2 ounces (56.7 grams) of flower, 8 grams of concentrate and 800 mg of THC in edibles and beverages (Minn. Stat. 342.27, subd. 2(c)). Every customer shows a valid ID proving they are 21 or older, such as a driver’s license, state ID, tribal ID or passport (Minn. Stat. 342.27, subd. 4).

How Thanksgiving dispensary deals work in Minnesota

Green Wednesday deals in Minnesota come as discounts, never as free cannabis. Expect percentage-off sales, bundle pricing such as two items for a set price, and bonus loyalty points at stores that run a points program.

Why Minnesota deals are discounts, not gifts

Minnesota law bars anyone “in the business of selling goods or services” from giving away cannabis as a sample or promotional gift (Minn. Stat. 342.09, subd. 1(b)(8)). “Free pre-roll with purchase” offers common in other states aren’t legal for Minnesota dispensaries. Instead, Green Wednesday deals at Minneapolis dispensaries and across the state take the form of percentage discounts and lower shelf prices.

How to judge a Green Wednesday deal

A bigger discount doesn’t always mean a better price. Compare products on unit price, then check freshness and lab results.

  1. Compare price per unit. For flower, divide the price by the grams. For edibles and drinks, divide the price by the total milligrams of THC. As an example, a 100 mg package at $25 costs $0.25 per mg, while a 200 mg package at $40 costs $0.20 per mg. Lining up options in the THC edibles category or cannabis beverages by price per milligram makes the comparison quick.
  2. Account for tax. If a shelf price doesn’t include tax, about 24% gets added at the register in Minneapolis. A $40 pre-tax price comes to about $49.61.
  3. Check the date. Minnesota flower labels must show a best-if-used-by date (Minn. R. 9810.1401). A steep discount on older stock may explain itself.
  4. Ask for the lab results. Minnesota requires cultivators, manufacturers, microbusinesses and several other license types to share test results with any member of the public who asks, in plain language (Minn. Stat. 342.61, subd. 5(c)). At the counter, ask for the product’s certificate of analysis (COA). The guide to reading a cannabis COA shows what to look for.
  5. Shop by aroma, not just price. The terpene results on a certificate of analysis (COA) describe a flower’s aroma better than its name. The Sweetleaves guide to cannabis terpenes explains how.

A Green Wednesday shopping plan

Green Wednesday is busy, so a little planning saves time in line. These steps work for any dispensary in the Twin Cities.

  1. Check the store’s hours. Holiday hours vary, and Thanksgiving Day hours often differ from the rest of the week.
  2. Leave extra time. Heavier-than-usual traffic is the whole point of the day, so expect a wait.
  3. Bring a valid ID. Staff check ID at the door or the counter for every customer.
  4. Order ahead. Many Twin Cities dispensaries take online orders for in-store or curbside pickup, which shortens the wait on a busy day. The Sweetleaves online menu shows what’s in stock before the trip.
  5. Make a short list. Knowing the format and dose ahead of time keeps the visit quick and avoids impulse buys.
  6. Plan storage at home. The OCM advises keeping cannabis “in its original child-resistant packaging, locked and out of reach of children and pets,” which matters when relatives with kids visit.

Thanksgiving travel and gatherings: the rules that apply

Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and cannabis rules follow shoppers on the road and to the table.

  • Driving: on Minnesota streets and highways, any opened package belongs in the trunk, or, in a vehicle without one, an area where no one sits. The glove box doesn’t count (Minn. Stat. 169A.36). Using cannabis in a motor vehicle is illegal, parked or moving (Minn. Stat. 342.09, subd. 1(b)(2)).
  • Impairment: driving while impaired by cannabis is a DWI in Minnesota, and the state sets no numeric THC limit for drivers (Minn. Stat. 342.09, subd. 1(b)(6)).
  • Crossing state lines: taking cannabis into another state is illegal under federal law, even when the other state has legal cannabis. Marijuana “remains illegal under federal law,” the OCM notes.
  • Flying: cannabis smoking and vaping is banned on all Metropolitan Airports Commission property, including MSP. The TSA refers cannabis found at screening to law enforcement.
  • Kids at the gathering: Minnesota law bans smoking or vaping anywhere a minor would inhale the smoke or vapor (Minn. Stat. 342.09, subd. 1(b)(9)).
  • Apartments and condos: smoking and vaping are banned in multifamily housing, including patios and balconies, with a $250 civil fine (Minn. Stat. 342.56, subd. 1(b)).
  • Pace: for edibles, the OCM’s safer-use guide advises starting with a low dose, from under 2.5 mg up to 5 mg of THC, and waiting at least 30 minutes to 2 hours before having more.
  • Alcohol: the OCM warns that combining cannabis with alcohol or other substances “can drastically increase impairment and risk of serious and unintentional effects.”

The overview of Minnesota cannabis laws covers possession and public-use rules in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

What is Green Wednesday?

Green Wednesday is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, one of the busiest cannabis shopping days of the year. In Headset’s latest ranking, it is second only to 4/20, with $114.0 million in sales on Nov. 26, 2025, in the markets Headset tracks.

When is Green Wednesday 2026?

Green Wednesday 2026 is Wednesday, Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving on Nov. 26. The date changes every year with Thanksgiving.

Why is it called Green Wednesday?

The name plays on Black Friday, with “green” referring to cannabis. It was popularized around 2016 to 2017, though sources disagree on who coined it.

How big is Green Wednesday for cannabis sales?

In Headset’s latest ranking of the biggest cannabis sales days, Green Wednesday is second only to 4/20. Dispensaries in the markets Headset tracks sold $114.0 million on Nov. 26, 2025, about 1.7 times an average day and more than the $108.1 million sold on Black Friday.

Can Minnesota dispensaries give away free cannabis on Green Wednesday?

No. Minnesota law bars businesses from giving away cannabis flower or cannabis products as a sample or promotional gift. Holiday deals at Minnesota dispensaries take the form of discounts.

Are Minnesota dispensaries open on Thanksgiving Day?

Minnesota law doesn’t require dispensaries to close on Thanksgiving, so hours depend on the store and the city. State law allows Thursday sales from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. (Minn. Stat. 342.27, subd. 7), but many stores shorten holiday hours, so check before going.

Can cannabis be taken to Thanksgiving in another state?

No. Carrying cannabis across state lines is illegal under federal law, even between two states with legal cannabis. Keep cannabis purchased in Minnesota in Minnesota.

Sources

Warning: Cannabis products are not for use by anyone under the age of 21. Cannabis use may cause drowsiness, affect focus, reaction time, and decision-making. These products are not evaluated or approved by the FDA. Pregnant people should avoid cannabis due to the risk of low birth weight, premature birth, stillbirth, and harm to fetal brain development.

This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not medical, legal or professional advice. Minnesota cannabis laws change, so verify current requirements with the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management or a qualified professional before acting on this information.

For adults 21+. Keep out of reach of children. Minnesota-compliant products. License # MICRO-L24-000257.

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