5 Things to Do in Boston While Stoned

With recent marijuana legalization in the Bay State, people have been wondering the best things to do in Boston after enjoying some fine cannabis strains. In November, more than 1.3 million Massachusetts voters checked “Yes” on the ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana. The legislation, which allows people 21 years and older to possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana outside their residence and 10 ounces of marijuana inside their residence (legal residents can also grow a maximum of 10 plants at home), went into effect on December 15, 2016. The “shot heard round the world” kicked off the American Revolutionary War at the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, and years from now, high times historians will refer to Massachusetts' marijuana law as the “toke heard ‘round Boston.” Cannabis is going to be as commonplace in the Cradle of Liberty as Red Sox caps and dropped R’s. So what are the best things to do in Boston while stoned?

You could recreate Paul Revere’s “Midnight Ride,” although anyone familiar with the city knows that Boston drivers are a nightmare, so it's not the best place to ride a horse after smoking a hybrid strain of Blue Dream. You could visit the site of the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919, although a massive wave of syrup sweeping the street like a tidal wave, killing 21 people and injuring more than 150, is straight out of the stoner’s handbook of paranoia. Finally, you can walk the 2.5-mile long Freedom Trail, a greatest hits of American history that passes 16 of Boston’s most famous attractions, but honestly, although the Freedom Trail is marked with red brick, chances are you’ll get lost, experience some sort of time-traveling fugue state and end up in Southie, Dorchester, or worse -- Rhode Island. Now, we don’t want to tell you how to choose your own cannabis adventure in Boston, but there are innumerable opportunities far more mellow for pothead recreation.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace has been a staple of things to do in Boston since the days of our founding fathers and was the meeting place of the patriots. Between 1764 and 1775, public assemblies were held at Faneuil Hall, a large market building in Boston’s thriving business center, to protest the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Boston Massacre, tea crisis and other grievances with Britain. Today, Faneuil Hall Marketplace consists of a vibrant mix of shops, pubs and live entertainment. The cobblestone plaza has over 40 pushcart eateries and 16-word class restaurants, including The Green Dragon, established in 1654 and a favorite haunt of the founding fathers.

Photo credit

There’s something about the New England Aquarium that’s reminiscent of a 1970s light show. All those balletic sea creatures, they seem choreographed to an endless loop of prog-rock. The New England Aquarium is known for its penguin and sea lion exhibits, which is a good thing because a tank full of tiger sharks, after a hit or two of strong cannabis, might have you screaming like Chief Brody in Jaws for a “bigger boat.” At the aquarium, you can sit back, relax and let the Technicolor blue of the Giant Ocean Tank – a 200,000-gallon unit simulating a Caribbean coral reef – wash over you as sea anemones sway to the sound of flutes and mellotrons.

Photo credit

Yes, it’s touristy. And crowded. In fact, Boston Duck Boat Tours carry more than 600,000 passengers a year. Some stoners will scoff at a Duck Boat Tour for being too mainstream, but here’s the thing: where else can you get to ride in a WWII-style amphibious landing vehicle? The narrated sightseeing tour covers everything, from the golden-domed State House and Bunker Hill to Copley Square and Boston Common. But it’s the splashdown in the Charles River that will fill your inner stoner with childhood wonder. As the amphibious Boat takes to the water, you’ll feel like a modern day Aquaman… the city of Boston your new Atlantis, making the duck boat tour one of the most exhilarating things to do in Boston.

Photo credit

If Jeffrey "The Dude” Lebowski were ever to find himself looking for things to do in Boston, Kings would be his first stop. Established in Boston’s Back Bay in 2002, Kings is the ultimate gaming and entertainment experience, a state of the art complex featuring bowling alleys, billiards, air hockey, shuffleboard and a host of other games and amusements. The retro-inspired décor is part American Graffiti, part Bladerunner. Kings serves upscale pub grub, cocktails, and cold beer, which means The Dude would have no problem finding a White Russian. 

Photo credit

Where do you go in Boston when the munchies take hold? The cannoli is a dessert institution in Boston’s North End, and people in the small Italian-American neighborhood fight over which Hannover Street bakery makes the best. Never trust a bakery with a pre-filled cannoli; the best bakeries in the North End fill them on the spot -the fresh, chilled, creamy sweet ricotta should be gushing from the flaky pastry shell. At Maria's, Café Paradiso, and Modern Pastry the Italian masterpieces are made to order.

Photo credit

Clearly, there are no shortages of exciting activities to enjoy in Boston and adding cannabis consumption to the mix only intensifies the fun. Whether you enjoy indica, sativa or hybrid marijuana products, we guarantee Boston is an experience you don't want to miss. Now that we've told you the best spots to visit, all that's left is planning your adventure! So what are you waiting for? Your canna-journey awaits!

What's YOUR favorite spot to visit in Boston while stoned?

Photo credit: Bert Kaufmann