Dazed Cannabis Dispensary in Holyoke MA

Dazed Cannabis, the store that started it all

Every brand has a first store, and for Dazed, that store is in Holyoke. The shop at 56 Jackson Street sits in downtown Holyoke, just off Route 391, and Dazed calls it “the first Dazed Cannabis Dispensary in Holyoke MA location, opening in 2021.” Since then the name has spread to other cities in Massachusetts and New York, but Jackson Street is where it all began.

From day one, the people behind Dazed wanted a shop that felt easy and welcoming. If you live in Holyoke, Chicopee or Springfield, or you are just passing through on I-91, here is what to know before you go.

Open since August 2021

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission lists 56 Jackson Street as an active, licensed adult-use cannabis retailer, open since August 16, 2021.

The celebration came a little later. WWLP reported that the Greater Holyoke Chamber held a ribbon cutting for the new store, and that Dazed planned a grand opening party on Friday, October 1, with a live DJ and prizes. The Dazed team was clearly happy to be there. “We are thrilled to open up in Holyoke,” a Dazed representative told WWLP. “The City has been so welcoming of the cannabis industry.”

Why Holyoke came first

Holyoke made a good first impression. In an October 2021 story on the opening, The Reminder spoke with co-owner Chris Vianello about why the team picked the city. “Holyoke did a good job marketing as a cannabis-friendly city, they turned out to be that,” he said. “They’re open to working with people, they wanted to have cannabis in town.”

Getting there still took time. Vianello told The Reminder that the search for a site began in January 2019, and that city zoning rules, including distance requirements from schools and certain other businesses, made the hunt a challenge. Then COVID-19 arrived and pushed the timeline back by several months. When the right spot turned up on Jackson Street, the team liked that it sat right off the highway with both on-street and off-street parking.

A relaxed place to shop

Some dispensaries feel more like a security checkpoint than a store. Dazed wanted the opposite. “What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to open a store that has a relaxed, fun, laid back atmosphere,” Vianello told The Reminder. He was clear that safety still matters, saying “Compliance is important, you have to keep everyone safe,” but he did not want shopping to feel like a trip through airport security.

The team also set out to stock a wide range. Vianello said the store would work with many cultivators, and he was sure “there are some products we have that other stores don’t have.”

Part of a growing downtown

Dazed opened at a time when Holyoke’s downtown was changing. At the ribbon cutting, Jordan Hart, executive director of the Greater Holyoke Chamber, told WWLP that “The cannabis industry is anchoring our downtown economy.” According to WWLP, Hart credited the industry with helping bring new restaurants and shops downtown, reusing old factory buildings and drawing visitors back to the city.

Friendly faces behind the counter

The Holyoke store page sums up the team this way: “The team is knowledgeable and approachable, providing guidance when needed without making the experience feel overwhelming.” That is a nice promise if you are new. Ask questions, tell the staff what you are looking for, and let them help you narrow things down at your own pace.

What’s on the menu

The Holyoke menu covers flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles, concentrates, tinctures, topicals, CBD, accessories and merch. Dazed says “All products are sourced from licensed Massachusetts brands and are lab tested for quality and consistency.” The menu changes, so check online before you head over.

How to read the menu before you order

Dazed has a handy blog post on reading a Holyoke dispensary menu, and it is worth a look before your first order. Here are the highlights:

Start with the category. Menus sort products into types like flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles and concentrates, so pick the format you want first.
Know the numbers. Flower, vapes and concentrates show potency as a percentage, while edibles list milligrams per serving.
Use the potency ranges. Dazed sorts flower into three bands: up to 15 percent THC for milder options, 16 to 25 percent for classic strains, and 26 percent and up for advanced picks.
Look for terpenes. Where the menu lists them, terpenes can help you choose by flavor and aroma. Dazed notes that limonene (citrus), myrcene (earthy, herbal) and pinene (pine) are common highlights.
Set a budget. Filters let you sort by category, potency and price, so decide what you want to spend before you start browsing.

Edibles, the easy way

New to edibles? The Dazed beginner guide to THC gummies has two tips worth remembering. First, be patient: “Wait a full two hours before deciding if you need more.” Second, read the label for both the total THC in the package and the THC in each piece. And once you get home, the guide has a reminder every household should hear: “Store all gummies securely away from children and pets.”

Three ways to shop

Dazed’s Holyoke guide explains the options:

Pre-order online. Pick a pickup time between 8am and 11pm, then bring your ID and order number to the express pickup station. Dazed says that can take as little as 5 to 10 minutes.
Walk in. Show your ID at the door, browse the menu and pay at the register.
Curbside. Order online, choose curbside at checkout, then call the store or reply to your confirmation text when you arrive. Staff check your ID and bring the order out.

Order updates arrive by email or text, so you will know when your order is ready.

Good to know before you go

The same guide covers a few house rules:

Payment. Cash and debit cards are accepted, and there is an ATM on site. Credit cards are generally not accepted.
ID. A valid, government-issued photo ID with your date of birth. Out-of-state IDs are accepted for recreational purchases.
Adults only. Anyone under 21 cannot enter the retail area, and children and pets are not allowed inside, so plan your trip without the kids or the dog.
Keep it sealed. All products must stay sealed until you have left the store property.

Plan your visit

Address. 56 Jackson Street, Holyoke, MA 01040, in downtown Holyoke just off Route 391.

Hours. Open every day, 8am to 11pm.

Phone. (917) 232-9869, the number listed on Dazed’s website, or email info@dazed.fun.

Parking. Dazed says the store has secure off-street parking and convenient on-street parking.

Getting here. Dazed estimates 15 to 20 minutes from downtown Springfield by way of I-91 North and I-391 North, 10 to 15 minutes from the Chicopee Center area, and 5 to 10 minutes from anywhere in Holyoke.

Adults 21+. Dazed Holyoke is a recreational store and does not currently hold a medical license, so no medical card is needed.

Hours can change around holidays, so check the website before a late-night run.

Massachusetts cannabis basics

Here are the state rules from the Cannabis Control Commission:

Age. 21 or older, with a government-issued ID for every retail purchase.
Carrying. Up to two ounces in public.
At home. Up to 10 ounces, and anything over two ounces must be locked up.
Where to use it. Not in public places and not on federal land.
In the car. No open containers in the passenger area. Use a closed container in the trunk or a locked glove compartment, and never drive under the influence.
State lines. It is illegal to take cannabis out of Massachusetts, and it cannot be mailed.

Your first visit, step by step

Read the menu online. Start with the category, then check potency and terpenes.
Pre-order or pick curbside. Choose a pickup time that suits you.
Bring your ID. A valid, government-issued photo ID showing you are 21 or older.
Bring cash or debit. There is an ATM on site if you need it.
Ask the team. Tell them what you like and let them guide you without any rush.

Make a day of it in Holyoke

Holyoke is a Hampden County city of 38,238 people (2020 census), about 8 miles north of Springfield. It covers 22.8 square miles and is made up of 15 distinct neighborhoods, from The Flats to Springdale to Smith’s Ferry.

Book lovers should stop by the Holyoke Public Library at 335 Maple Street. The neoclassical building, designed by local architect James A. Clough, opened officially in 1902 on Library Park. At its dedication, library president William Whiting called it the “people’s college.” Holyoke has a fun publishing claim too: Clark W. Bryan launched Good Housekeeping magazine here on May 2, 1885.

The city has a big show business past. Vaudeville star Eva Tanguay grew up in Holyoke and became the first American popular musician to reach mass-media fame. Bing Crosby and the Marx Brothers played the city’s Victory Theater, and an effort to restore that theater has been underway for years.

Want some fresh air? Springdale Park, designed by the Olmsted Brothers in 1905 and 1906, is the city’s largest park and the home of the annual Western Massachusetts Puerto Rican Parade and Festival. The Canalwalk is a set of walkways that links downtown with The Flats and South Holyoke, a great way to see the city’s canals up close. Anglers will like this one: every May since 1962, Holyoke has held a Shad Derby, now run by Holyoke Gas & Electric, and the stretch of the Connecticut River below the Holyoke Dam holds the world record for the largest American shad ever caught, at 11 pounds, 4 ounces.

Golfers can tee off at Wyckoff Country Club, which opened in 1899 as the Mount Tom Golf Club and was originally designed by Donald Ross. It is one of two private courses in Smith’s Ferry, on opposite sides of Mount Tom.

Why Dazed Holyoke is worth the stop

The very first Dazed store, a team that wanted shopping to feel relaxed instead of tense, three easy ways to shop, parking on and off the street and hours that run until 11pm every day: Dazed Holyoke is a fun, friendly stop right off Route 391. Come see where the Dazed story started.

Cannabis is for adults 21 and over. Please consume responsibly.