The Zen Leaf marijuana dispensary at 1804 Maple Ave. in downtown Evanston. Credit: Duncan Agnew April 20, 4/20 (four-twenty) is slang in cannabis culture for when — like the day or time (4:20 p.m.) — to smoke pot. It’s known variously as 420, 4:20 and 4/20.
Three years ago I wrote about my experience
Some cannabis background
According to a Huffington Post article
I wasn’t even sure Zen Leaf Dispensary
The store was jammed when I got there around 2 p.m. At least 20 people were ahead of me in line.
More products, more commercialization
Close to the inside of the store is a kiosk where you can pre-order. This saves time when you step up to the counter. I asked a few questions and a cannabis advisor steered me toward the edibles. I clicked on the items I wanted and waited in line.
Some merch displayed in the line to purchase Credit: Wendi Kromash
There are more products for sale than I remember — cannabis flowers, pre-rolls (pre-rolled joints), vapes, edibles, extracts, gear, topicals, tinctures and merchandise.
The merch includes clothing and the fee-based membership club, Cabbage Club. Gear includes several cookbooks — including one, From Crook to Cook
I took my purchase home in a small reusable bag with a bright graphic design, a scratch off discount card and a gifted container of breath mints (without cannabis).
Three purchases plus giveaways. Credit: Wendi Kromash Many states and discounts
Cabbage Club membership sign. Credit: Wendi Kromash
The parent company, Zen Leaf Dispensaries, sells two tiers of a fee-based membership club available to customers in Illinois (10 locations) and New Jersey (four locations). Zen Leaf also has stores in Arizona (eight), Connecticut (seven), Maryland (four), Massachusetts (two), Michigan (one), Nevada (five), Ohio (six), Pennsylvania (18) and West Virginia (five).
The Cabbage Club, a membership organization, offers discounts, members-only events, a newsletter and no waiting time at the store. A quarter membership costs $249 and includes “$20 store credit applied to your account every month, plus $50 value in members-only quarterly coupons.” The cash value for the membership is $440 and might make economic sense to frequent customers.
There is also a program called Zen Leaf Illinois Rewards that involves points based on spending and an app. It’s unclear how or if this program and the membership club overlap.
I shop on 4/20 because of the deep discounts. The items I purchased were 40% off, and will likely last me a year. They help me with sleep and muscle pain. At $2.20 per gummy or chocolate piece, it’s a treat I enjoy selectively.
Shoppers and discounts
My fellow shoppers spanned all ages. I asked the advisor helping me if there was a typical customer, or if there is a difference between the number of men and women who purchase. He said more men than women, maybe 60% to 40%, and the average customer from what he sees is probably a 45-year-old man.
The store reportedly attracts a lot of Northwestern students and people from Rogers Park in addition to Evanston.
Zen Leaf offers discounts to specific groups. Veterans who show their veteran ID Card, a certificate of release or discharge from active duty (DD-214), or driver’s license with the “V” emblem are eligible for a discount of 22%. Patients or the caregiver of patients under the age of 18 save 25% on Zen Leaf products recommended by a physician. Individuals on Social Security disability insurance receive a 10% discount. Seniors aged 55 and older and college students with a valid college ID receive a 10% discount. These discounts may not be combined with other discounts.
I ate one of the dark chocolate pieces with CBD last night. I’m happy to report my aching back muscles calmed down and I slept like a baby.
Related Stories
