MICHIGAN—You’re in Lansing, you’re stoned, you’ve got some free time, and you’re staring at your phone wondering where to go and what to do. Well, you’ve come to the right place.
This is the stoner’s field guide to Greater Lansing—the first in a running series on where to shop, what to eat, and where to explore when you find yourself pleasantly baked in Michigan.
Dispensaries
Herbana: This is the value play. Herbana has built a reputation for some of the best prices in town with higher quality products than the price tag implies. It’s a convenient, friendly, and clean spot to shop for middle-shelf brands like Glacier, Society C, MichiGrown, and Freshy Fine.
Cake House: This is the go-to spot to find top-shelf brands like 710 Labs, Voyage Bloom, Favrd, Growing Pains, and Fear of Boof. It’s easily the widest selection in town with a higher price tag to match, but first-time shoppers can score 42% off their purchase.
Fortuo: This is the dispensary for stoners who want a real taste of Lansing. It’s the city’s first (and only) microbusiness, which means a lot of the weed on the shelves is grown on site. It’s a small shop with a deli-style menu, plus a spin-the-wheel freebie every time you spend $25.
Restaurants
Lansing Shuffle: When nobody in the group can agree on what to eat, this is the move. It’s a downtown food hall in the old City Market with a rotating food court, two bars, five shuffleboard courts, and a patio alongside the Grand River. It’s also connected to the River Trail, making it a convenient pitstop on your downtown Lansing adventure. Open daily until 11 p.m. or midnight.
Weston’s Kewpee Sandwich Shop: If you’ve never had an olive burger, this is your chance to do it the right way. Kewpee’s is the birthplace of this briny, Mid-Michigan classic. And this particular restaurant—the last Kewpee’s standing in Michigan—has been slinging these patties since 1923. Get a side of onion rings, too. They’re homemade. Open weekdays until 3 or 4 p.m.
Asian Buffet: This is a top tier option for the hungriest of stoners. It’s widely considered the best all-you-can-eat buffet in the area—complete with sushi and a wall of Chinese standards that are always kept hot and refilled at prices that reward a serious appetite. My top picks are the black pepper and coconut chicken. Open daily until 9 or 9:30 p.m.; closed on Mondays.
Naing Myanmar: This is the one you’ll remember long after you’re done eating. This family-run Burmese spot was recently renovated and features an attached Asian grocery store. But the real draw is the menu. Start with the fermented tea leaf salad. You can’t go wrong with the garlic chicken. And don’t forget the spring rolls. Open daily until 8 or 9 p.m.; closed on Sundays.
Munchies
Quality Dairy: If you know, you know. Quality Dairy—or just QD— is the quintessential mid-Michigan party store with dozens of locations scattered across Greater Lansing. And it’s practically built for stoner adventures. Grab a tub of the legendary french onion chip dip and a bag of chips, a box of fresh donuts, and a hand-dipped ice cream cone on your way out.
MSU Dairy Store: If you’re anywhere near the campus of Michigan State University, skip the scoop at QD and come to the ice cream store inside Anthony Hall instead. This ice cream is churned on-site from MSU’s own dairy operation, with a rotating lineup of Spartan-named flavors like Izzo’s Malted Madness, Shaw Lane Strawberry, and Beaumont Brownie Bliss. Open daily until 8 p.m.; closed on Mondays. And bring a credit or debit card; cash is not accepted.
Hidden Gems
Mega Mall: Browsing a 40,000-square-foot labyrinth of other people’s stuff is a genuinely great way to kill a stoned afternoon. This indoor antique store crams a couple hundred vendor booths into winding aisles stacked with vintage records, old toys, collectibles, and other oddities. Come with no agenda, enjoy some free coffee, let yourself get lost, and find some random treasure. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with an extra two hours of shopping until 8 p.m. on Thursdays.
Deadtime Stories Books & Gifts: This local bookshop (and spider store) in REO Town is devoted entirely to the macabre—including books on true crime, horror, and hauntings. You can also browse a selection of tarot cards and other oddball trinkets alongside a couple resident shop cats. It’s exactly the kind of weird, wonderful rabbit hole that rewards a wandering mind.
Pinball Pete’s: This basement arcade near MSU’s campus has been open since 1977. It’s a mix of classic and newer games—not just pinball machines. And there’s a prize counter where you can spend $30 chasing a few stale Tootsie Rolls. It’s a nostalgic way to enjoy a rainy afternoon, especially when you’re completely baked. Open until midnight, later on weekends.
Old Town: If you do one “real” Lansing thing during your stoner adventure, make it this one. Old Town is the city’s official historic arts district. It’s a few walkable blocks along the Grand River, blanketed in murals and packed with galleries, vintage shops, and other storefronts. It’s also a designated Social District, so you can wander the strip with a drink in your hand if you choose.
Smoke Spots
First, some housekeeping:
Michigan legalized weed, but you can’t smoke it everywhere. Public consumption is still against the law, so always be mindful of where you’re partaking. And please, never smoke and drive.
Lansing River Trail: This is the easiest option on the list because this paved trail cuts through basically everything. It runs more than 20 miles along the Grand and Red Cedar rivers, linking downtown Lansing, Old Town, the Potter Park Zoo, and MSU’s campus. And there’s no shortage of quiet, tree-shaded stretches and riverside benches to post up and relax.
Frances Park: This might be the best spot in Lansing to unwind, read a book, and catch a sunset. This quiet neighborhood park sits on a bluff above the Grand River with a gorgeous pergola and two overlooks that are perfect for capturing the golden hour. Plus, there’s a rose garden and plenty of shaded woodland trails nearby. Just make sure you avoid the playground, stand downwind from the governor’s mansion, and leave the park before it closes at dusk.
Hawk Island Park: This southside park is built around a 30-acre lake, with a flat 1.5-mile paved loop that ties directly into the River Trail. It’s quiet, scenic, and includes plenty of wooded areas where you probably won’t be bothered. Admission is $5-7 per vehicle; the gates close at sunset.
READ MORE: 6 quick hits of cannabis news from across Michigan
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