Hennep Dispensary in Provincetown MA

Hennep, right in the heart of P-town

Walk down Commercial Street on a summer night and you will pass restaurants, galleries, local stores and boutiques. Right in the middle of it all, at 246 Commercial Street, is Hennep Dispensary in Provincetown MA, a recreational dispensary started by two friends who met in college and decided Provincetown was the place to build their dream.

The shop calls itself “Your Premier Provincetown Dispensary,” and it sits across from the Crown & Anchor, one of the town’s best-known entertainment spots. Whether you live here year-round, rent a cottage every August or just stepped off the ferry, here is what to know about Hennep before you stop in.

What’s in a name?

Hennep is a Dutch word. Wiktionary defines it simply as “hemp,” the plant Cannabis sativa. On its homepage, the shop says the name comes from the Dutch language and was inspired by its founder’s Dutch roots, adding with a wink that “we’re more than just a fan of tulips.”

It is a short, friendly name for a shop that wants to feel welcoming, and it gives you a fun fact to share with whoever you brought along.

Open since April 2021

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission lists 246 Commercial Street as an active, licensed adult-use cannabis retailer, open since April 20, 2021.

The public opening day followed a couple of weeks later. The Provincetown Independent reported that Hennep opened on Monday, May 3, 2021, as the third retail marijuana shop in Provincetown. In a 2021 Ptownie story published just before the opening, the shop set its hours at 9am to 9pm every day and asked customers to order online before arriving, so lines would not spill onto the street.

Two friends from Boston University

Hennep’s story starts on a college campus. According to its About page, Andrew Koudijs and Colin Noel met at Boston University and started Hennep there. Andrew studied Communications. Colin earned a Business Administration degree from BU’s Questrom School of Business in 2019, with a minor in Sustainable Energy, and serves as Director of Operations.

The Provincetown Independent filled in more of the picture. Koudijs grew up in New York State, and the two friends began planning the business as undergraduates after attending a panel on the cannabis industry. They moved to Provincetown the winter before the shop opened. His link to the town goes back to Family Week, which his family attended at least five times. Asked why he chose Provincetown, he pointed to its people and energy and said, “I just thought there was no better place to do this.”

The About page tells the same story in its own words. Andrew spent summers in Provincetown growing up, and he believed that if any town would welcome cannabis “with open arms,” it would be P-town.

Community, Truth and Moments

Hennep sums up what it stands for in three words on its About page:

Community. The company says it gives back to people in need, and it promises customers that they “can most definitely sit with us.”
Truth. Hennep supports product transparency and sees its staff as personal guides.
Moments. The focus is on memorable experiences, not just quick transactions.

Colin’s goals add one more layer. The About page says he wants to study and reduce the environmental impact of commercial cannabis, and the shop describes a focus on earth-friendly, local products.

Cape Cod’s Best Dispensary 2022

Hennep has some hardware to show for its work. The shop’s homepage says it was awarded “Cape Cod’s Best Dispensary 2022” because “at Hennep, we do things differently.” It explains what that means: a focus on customer service, quality products and the best experience possible.

One-on-one help, even in July

Provincetown’s summer crowds can be huge, so Hennep’s service model is worth knowing about. The homepage says its staff “will guide you through a one-on-one consultation” so you leave confident and happy with your purchase.

Yankee magazine’s guide to cannabis tourism in Provincetown backed that up, reporting that Hennep’s staff work one-on-one with customers even on busy summer days. Koudijs told the magazine that he asks shoppers what they hope to get out of the experience, such as a relaxed day at the beach, and uses that to guide his suggestions. He also put the town’s appeal plainly: “Tourism obviously is a big factor, since we’re a true international destination.”

Ptownie later noted that Hennep puts a lot of weight on in-store education, which Koudijs said helps fight the stigma around cannabis.

What shoppers say

Reviews on the Hennep homepage keep coming back to the people behind the counter. One shopper wrote, “Hennep is great! Avery and Laura are super helpful and always welcoming!!” Another called it “A great dispensary in Provincetown with awesome website and supercool interior.” A longtime customer praised the staff for being friendly and patient while helping them choose flower.

What’s on the menu

Hennep’s menu covers edibles, flower, concentrates, pre-rolls, tinctures, live rosin and accessories, with chocolates, drinks and gummies under the edibles section. Yankee magazine reported that edibles are among the shop’s most popular products, and Koudijs pointed to tinctures as a beginner-friendly choice. The menu changes often, so browse it online before you go.

Order ahead and skip the wait

Ordering ahead is the smart move on a busy Commercial Street afternoon. Hennep’s FAQ explains that you can order online through the menu and pay in person, and the shop will send you a text when your order is ready for pickup.

Tips from the Hennep blog

Hennep runs an active blog, and a few posts are especially handy for visitors.

Questions for your budtender. In its post on visiting a Cape Cod dispensary for the first time, Hennep suggests asking what effect a product will have, what its CBD to THC ratio is, and what the budtender’s own experience with it has been. Its advice for true beginners: “If you are entirely new to cannabis, it is best to select products that are lower in THC concentration.”

Tinctures 101. Hennep’s tincture guide explains that the usual method is to place your dose under your tongue and wait around 20 to 30 seconds before swallowing. It says tinctures generally take about 10 to 30 minutes to take effect, longer than smoking but faster than edibles, and its dosing advice is short and sweet: “Start slow and low.”

Come ready to pay. In its list of things to keep in mind before visiting a Cape Cod dispensary, Hennep says that “we recommend that you come prepared with cash,” since debit can carry a fee and ATM withdrawals may cost extra.

Know where you can use it. Hennep’s FAQ reminds visitors that Provincetown sits within the Cape Cod National Seashore, so federal law applies there, and using cannabis on public beaches can bring more serious consequences.

Plan your visit

Address. 246 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657, across from the Crown & Anchor.

Hours. Monday through Sunday, 9am to 9pm.

Phone. (774) 593-5172.

Accessibility. The accessible entrance is on the west side of the store.

Paying. Cash and debit are accepted. Credit cards are not. Hennep’s FAQ notes a Bank of America ATM close by at 299 Commercial Street.

Parking. Use Provincetown’s public parking, which the FAQ says includes staffed lots and metered zones.

Adults 21+. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID, driver’s license or passport showing you are 21 or older. Out-of-state visitors are welcome to shop.

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. With so many out-of-state visitors in Provincetown, it is worth remembering that everything you buy here has to stay in Massachusetts.

Your first visit, step by step

Browse the menu online. See what is in stock before you walk over.
Order ahead if you like. Hennep will text you when it is ready.
Bring ID plus cash or debit. No credit cards, and there is an ATM nearby.
Ask for a one-on-one. Tell your budtender what kind of day or night you have planned.
Start slow and low. Especially with edibles and tinctures.

Make a day of it in Provincetown

Provincetown sits at the very tip of Cape Cod. It had 3,664 year-round residents at the 2020 census, though the summer population can reach 60,000. History runs deep here: the Pilgrims sighted Cape Cod on November 9, 1620, and the Mayflower Compact was drawn up and signed in Provincetown Harbor before they settled across the bay in Plymouth. The town was incorporated on June 14, 1727. Residents wanted to call it Herringtown, but the General Court chose Provincetown.

After the American Revolution, Provincetown grew into a fishing and whaling center, and many Portuguese sailors, often from the Azores, made it their home. Art followed. Charles Webster Hawthorne opened the Cape Cod School of Art in 1898, and the town built an international reputation for art and literature. The experimental Provincetown Players formed in the early 20th century, and Eugene O’Neill dramas were later staged here each summer.

Provincetown is also one of the country’s best-known LGBTQ destinations. The Provincetown Business Guild formed in 1978 and now includes more than 200 businesses, and the Atlantic House is considered the oldest gay bar in the United States. Commercial Street, once called Front Street, is still the main street, where most of the town’s businesses are found.

For the outdoors, the National Park Service owns about 73% of the town’s land as part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, and Race Point Light marks the western point of the Province Lands. Hennep’s own Discover Provincetown page points visitors to the Beech Forest Trail, an easy walk of under a mile that suits beginners and kids, and to the gallery scene, where the town shows work from more than 700 contemporary artists. The Pilgrim Monument, built between 1907 and 1910 and modeled on a tower in Siena, Italy, watches over it all. Getting here is part of the fun: seasonal ferries run to Boston and Plymouth from MacMillan Pier, U.S. Route 6 ends in town, and Provincetown Municipal Airport sits just east of Race Point.

Why Hennep is worth the stop

A Dutch name with a story, two college friends who bet on P-town, a Best Dispensary award, one-on-one help even on the busiest summer days and a spot right across from the Crown & Anchor: Hennep is a natural stop on any Commercial Street stroll. Order ahead, grab a walk on the Beech Forest Trail and swing by to say hello.

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