If you’ve ever tried to purchase cannabis products late at night, you may have found yourself frustrated by a lack of options. Dispensary hours often end at 10 p.m. or earlier, and 24-hour dispensaries are few and far between. But why is it so hard to find cannabis retailers that are open late?
The simple answer is that most states and municipalities limit the sale of cannabis products within a designated range of operating hours.
Because cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, it’s up to local governments to create their own legislation for the sale and distribution of cannabis products. As a result, laws dictating how late at night a dispensary can operate are different for each city, let alone state.
Here’s what you need to know about the regulations impacting dispensary hours of operation.
Who Decides Dispensary Hours?
Dispensary hours aren’t always up to the dispensary operator. Depending on where the dispensary is located, there may be restrictions on opening and closing times — and these restrictions can vary, even within the same state.
Dispensary Hours by State or Municipality
In many states where adult-use cannabis is legal, dispensary hours are restricted because statewide legislation prohibits the sale of recreational cannabis products outside of a prescribed range of hours.
For example, in California, retailers may only sell and deliver cannabis products between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., while in Colorado, cannabis retail businesses may only operate between 8:00 a.m. and midnight.
However, municipalities can usually set their own restrictions on dispensary hours. So even if your state permits late-night or 24-hour cannabis sales, local regulations may not.
That said, there are some areas where cannabis sales are permitted at all hours of the day and night. Twenty-four-hour recreational dispensaries are still relatively rare but becoming more common as acceptance of cannabis as a whole becomes more widespread.
Dispensary Hours in New Mexico
In the state of New Mexico, restrictions on dispensary hours depend on local ordinances. Many New Mexico cities — including Santa Fe — allow for cannabis retail sales between 7:00 a.m. and midnight, while others require dispensaries to close at 10:00 p.m.
There are a few dispensaries in New Mexico that are open 24/7, but they’re a recent development. The first of these, located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, opened in late 2022.
What About Deliveries?
If you can’t purchase cannabis products late at night in your area, can you at least get them delivered? Again, it depends on your state and municipality.
Only a handful of states allow for the delivery of cannabis products, and even fewer permit deliveries of cannabis products for recreational use in addition to medicinal products.
Cannabis delivery is legal in New Mexico with a state-issued courier license for both medicinal and recreational products. Keep in mind, though, that delivery hours adhere to the same local regulations as dispensary hours of operation.
When Can You Purchase Cannabis Products?
Depending on your state and municipality, local dispensary hours may be restricted by law to fall within a given time frame. So you’ll want to research your local dispensary’s operating hours well in advance of any late-night cravings.
While dispensaries in some areas may be able to deliver cannabis products to your front door, not all can — and even if cannabis deliveries are permitted in your state, delivery hours are likely to follow the same restrictions as dispensary hours.
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