Toronto’s most stylish head shops
Throughout this week, we’re telling you everything you need to know to navigate the semi-legal new world of weed. Here, the best places to hang out, stretch and LYAO
Where to Hang Out: Tokyo Smoke
Alan Gertner, a former Google manager, and his father, Lorne, who acquired Canada’s first licence to grow medical marijuana more than 20 years ago, run the city’s swankiest shop with cannabis accoutrements, built inside a modified shipping container. Along with premium vaporizers like the Pax2, Tokyo Smoke sells Lego’s architectural icons sets, Hermès tableware and Diptyque candles, plus perfectly pulled espresso and Forno Cultura’s fancy pastries—you’ll think you died and went to Amsterdam. Alan also sells his own men’s clothing line, featuring shawl-collared blazers, quilted wool-blend hoodies and tailored shirts, and a hippie quotient of zero. 850B Adelaide St. W., 647-348-6596.
Where to Om: Ganja Yoga
Koreatown’s Conscious Consumption on Bloor sells quirky gifts like clutch purses with aroma-locking secret compartments, and Apothecanna creams made in Denver that blend healing herbs and cannabis oil for pain and anxiety relief. The studio in the back of the shop, decked out in twinkly lights, billowing silks and woodsy murals, is where the gentle, BYOGanja hatha yoga classes are held. Participants take a couple of hits of sativa vapour while listening to a sitar soundtrack before blissing out into downward dog. Then it’s another round of vaping, this time with an indica strain, set to the sounds of tribal drumming. From $20. 714 Bloor St. W., 647-741-4200.
Where to ROFL: Puff Mama
Joanne Baker was 25, weary of working in restaurants and sick of boozing it up with friends every night. She started smoking weed recreationally, got a job in a comedy club, and began renting halls and putting on her own comedy nights. She discovered two things: people love to laugh and people love pot. A few years later, she found a storefront in Riverside where she could combine the two. The ground floor is a shop where Baker sells Toronto-made incense and candles, locally blown glass pipes, and organic and all-natural rolling papers. Next door is a comedy club where big acts like Eric Andre, Joe Rogan, Robert Kelly and Brendon Walsh have taken the stage. 668 Queen St. E., 416-450-9125.
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