CHESTERFIELD, Mo. — This year brought an unusual crossover: Easter Sunday and 4/20 on the same day.
While some families filled baskets with candy and eggs, others stocked up for the country’s biggest cannabis celebration. At Hippos Dispensary in Chesterfield, customer Christopher Wojcicki made a holiday stop.
“I just came for some flower, Sundro flower,” Wojcicki said. He admitted he needed a little break from the family festivities.
“Had to try and get away from the family for the holiday to come out here for a little bit. But it’s definitely going to be a fun day for everybody,” Wojcicki added.
Whether for medical or recreational use, the demand was high across the Show Me State.
Hippos general manager Joe McNamara said the team was prepared for the rare double holiday rush.
“We just want everybody to come in and enjoy the time. We’ve got tables set up outside to greet folks, give them a good ol’ ‘Happy 4/20. Happy Easter.’ Spread the cheer, spread the joy, spread the deals.”
Inside, shelves are packed with crowd favorites from premium flower to infused beverages and sleep gummies that are flying off the shelves.
“Sleep’s important,” McNamara added, “so we definitely try to get folks what they need.”
Missouri’s adult-use cannabis program launched less than two years ago, but it has already made a massive impact.
The state recently became the fifth largest cannabis market in the U.S., surpassing legacy states like Colorado and Arizona, according to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services.
“If it’s grown here, it’s sold here,” McNamara said. “It helps create jobs and support communities.”
And for many newcomers, dispensary staff are more than salespeople, they are educators.
“You might get someone who’s been to a hundred dispensaries, or someone brand new looking to learn. Our budtenders are here to guide people, explain products, and help everyone stay informed on what’s out and what’s coming in,” McNamara said.
Missouri dispensaries made more than $1.46 billion in cannabis sales in 2024, with the vast majority coming from adult-use purchases, putting the state among the strongest cannabis markets in the country for its population size.
