The Top 10 Cannabis Dispensaries in North Carolina (2025 Edition)
As the cannabis and hemp-derived product markets continue to gain legal and cultural momentum across the U.S., North Carolina is quickly emerging as a noteworthy hub. While full legalization has not yet arrived statewide, the popularity and accessibility of THCa products have opened the door for dispensaries and wellness shops to offer a wide array of legal alternatives to traditional cannabis. Consumers today demand more than potency—they expect transparency, education, and community. In this article, we highlight the top 10 dispensaries across North Carolina, each offering something unique. Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur or a wellness-minded newcomer, these destinations stand out.
1. Wilson’s Mills Variety Store – Wilson’s Mills, NC
Website: https://wilsonsmillsvarietystore.com
Tucked into Johnston County, Wilson’s Mills Variety Store has become a quiet powerhouse in North Carolina's THCa space. What makes it stand out isn’t flashy marketing or big-city branding, but its grassroots approach to community wellness. This Native-owned dispensary focuses on providing small-batch, farm-direct products in a setting that feels more like a modern apothecary than a chain storefront. The team at Wilson’s Mills puts education first, helping new and returning customers alike understand the nuances of THCa flower, live rosin extracts, and functional mushrooms. Their in-store experience is calm, informative, and purposefully designed.
One of the key differentiators for Wilson’s Mills is their emphasis on compliance and transparency. All products are accompanied by Certificates of Analysis (COAs), and their team is happy to explain the differences between THCa, Delta-8, and CBD. Their best-sellers include 2000mg live rosin brownies, high-terpene exotic flower jars, and mushroom-infused wellness cookies. The dispensary is also known for blending Native herbal practices into its holistic product line, creating a unique offering unmatched in the region.
Despite their relatively quiet profile compared to larger shops in metropolitan areas, Wilson’s Mills Variety Store consistently earns rave reviews for its product quality, low-key atmosphere, and deeply intentional business model. It’s a refreshing departure from the hype-heavy approach found in some dispensaries and a clear favorite among locals who care about where and how their cannabis is sourced.
2. Great Smoky Cannabis Co. – Cherokee, NC
Website: https://greatsmokycannabisco.com
Situated within the Qualla Boundary and operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Great Smoky Cannabis Co. holds the historic distinction of being the first fully legal cannabis dispensary in North Carolina. Open to adults 21 and over, it operates independently of state cannabis laws due to tribal sovereignty. The store boasts a state-of-the-art cultivation and production facility, including an edibles kitchen and a drive-thru, and reflects the tribe's long-term commitment to self-sufficiency and innovation in alternative medicine.
Great Smoky Cannabis Co. combines the professionalism of a corporate brand with the cultural identity and purpose of a sovereign community. Its interior is sleek, modern, and optimized for high-volume traffic. With more than 2,000 daily visitors on average, the dispensary operates like a well-oiled machine. However, it's the quality of their vertically integrated products that leaves the strongest impression. Everything from flower to gummies is grown, processed, and packaged on-site, giving consumers unparalleled quality assurance.
What sets Great Smoky apart isn’t just legality or efficiency—it's their focus on community reinvestment. A portion of the proceeds goes back into public services and education programs for the Cherokee community, adding a layer of ethical sustainability to the shopping experience. For those who want both convenience and conscience in their cannabis purchases, this dispensary delivers on both fronts.
3. Sherlocks Glass & Dispensary – Raleigh & Durham, NC
Website: https://sherlocksdispensary.com
Sherlocks has become a fixture in the Triangle area, known for combining a high-end headshop experience with an ever-expanding menu of THCa products. With multiple locations across Raleigh and Durham, the store has earned a reputation for stocking exotic strains, artisanal glassware, and rare cannabinoids not widely available elsewhere. Their clientele is diverse, ranging from college students to medical users seeking cleaner, more effective alternatives to over-the-counter pain relief.
Walking into Sherlocks is like stepping into a boutique gallery. Handmade glass pieces line the walls, each lit with accent lighting and accompanied by detailed placards. In tandem, their cannabis product line is curated for both effect and flavor. Their preroll packs, small-batch vape cartridges, and solventless rosin all speak to a certain level of connoisseurship. It’s a place where quality meets curiosity, and that balance keeps customers returning.
Education also plays a big role at Sherlocks. Staff members receive regular training on cannabinoids, terpene profiles, and product interactions. They take the time to walk customers through effects, usage methods, and dosing strategies. In a state still finding its way through hemp-derived legalization, that kind of guidance is invaluable.
4. Carolina Hemp Hut – Hillsborough & Durham, NC
Carolina Hemp Hut stands out for its dual commitment to natural wellness and customer education. Founded with a mission to provide North Carolinians with hemp-derived alternatives to pharmaceuticals, this shop operates two locations in Hillsborough and Durham. Their team frequently offers free consultations and wellness coaching, making it one of the few dispensaries in the state that bridges the gap between cannabis and functional medicine. The space itself feels more like a health and wellness boutique than a head shop, which speaks to its more refined customer experience.
What separates Carolina Hemp Hut from many of its competitors is the breadth of its inventory and its focus on function-forward solutions. Whether you're looking for potent THCa flower, mushroom tinctures, topical salves, or CBD for pets, their product mix is curated for results—not just hype. They frequently host educational sessions and publish informative articles to help consumers navigate the often-confusing hemp and cannabis landscape, which earns them a level of trust few stores can match.
This commitment to transparency and education has helped Carolina Hemp Hut build a loyal customer base throughout the Triangle area. Their Hillsborough location in particular has become a destination for people traveling from Raleigh and beyond. Their ability to fuse high-quality cannabis products with holistic wellness principles has made them a fixture in North Carolina’s evolving hemp space.
5. Hempie’s – Raleigh, NC
Hempie’s is one of Raleigh’s more established hemp dispensaries, having made a name for itself in the capital city by staying ahead of emerging cannabinoids and compliance trends. The store's interior is clean, modern, and accessible—attractive to both cannabis veterans and curious first-timers. Their focus on purity, safety, and lab-tested formulations makes them a trusted stop for anyone navigating the legal THCa and Delta-9 space.
They carry a strong selection of artisan edibles, high-potency disposables, and flavorful THCa flower from reputable North Carolina and national growers. What makes Hempie’s particularly appealing is their embrace of next-generation products, including THCp-infused gummies and minor cannabinoid blends that push the boundaries of hemp legislation. Customers can shop confidently thanks to QR codes linking to verified COAs on every product.
With strong customer service, a frequently updated inventory, and a location convenient to downtown Raleigh, Hempie’s is a serious player in North Carolina’s cannabis retail scene. Their ability to provide both high-end recreational-style products and therapeutic options allows them to serve a wide demographic, from medical users to casual smokers.
6. Apotheca – Multiple NC Locations
Apotheca has quietly built one of the most extensive hemp retail networks in the Southeast, with multiple locations across North Carolina, including in Greensboro, Raleigh, and Hendersonville. The company offers a uniform customer experience across all its stores, with consistent branding, education-based service, and a deep catalog of hemp and wellness products. Apotheca's reach and reliability have made it a go-to for customers looking for trustworthy, lab-tested THCa flower and cannabinoids in rural and urban markets alike.
What makes Apotheca unique is the scale and professionalism it brings to the state’s hemp dispensary space. Its stores offer not only THCa flower and Delta-9 edibles, but also kratom, kava, mushroom blends, and even CBD for pets. The staff is generally well-trained and helpful, and the company invests in making compliance a priority. Apotheca is also one of the few brands to offer its own in-house line of products, allowing for better pricing and quality control.
While some smaller dispensaries excel in niche offerings or boutique experiences, Apotheca’s value lies in its consistency and convenience. Whether you're shopping in a small town or a larger metro, you can expect similar quality and service. Their website also allows customers to check stock at individual stores, which enhances the customer experience.
7. Asheville Dispensary – Asheville, NC
Asheville Dispensary offers something few others do: a deeply integrated, community-focused cannabis experience in one of North Carolina’s most progressive cities. Located in the heart of Asheville, this dispensary leans into the city’s reputation for wellness, sustainability, and alternative healing. From the moment you step into the shop, it’s clear that the atmosphere is designed to feel welcoming and educational rather than transactional.
One standout feature of Asheville Dispensary is their on-site functional mushroom bar, where customers can sample wellness drinks made with lion’s mane, cordyceps, and other adaptogens. This commitment to plant-based healing extends to their cannabis products as well. Their THCa flower offerings tend to include local, small-batch strains not found at bigger chain stores, and their edibles include vegan and gluten-free options—something their customer base appreciates.
The dispensary also hosts regular educational events, sound bath sessions, and yoga, turning it into a hybrid wellness center. While their cannabis product line may be smaller than the likes of Apotheca or Carolina Hemp Hut, Asheville Dispensary’s deep roots in the community and holistic philosophy make it a one-of-a-kind presence in North Carolina.
8. Happy Camper – Charlotte, NC
Happy Camper in Charlotte distinguishes itself with a unique and memorable retail concept: combining a casual lounge-style atmosphere with top-tier legal cannabis products. The space is designed to look more like a boutique coffee shop than a traditional dispensary, complete with relaxed seating, music, and bright lighting. This vibe helps demystify cannabis for new users and makes the process of shopping for THCa or Delta-9 products approachable and fun.
Product-wise, Happy Camper offers an impressive range, including THCa flower, pre-rolls, live rosin gummies, and flavored tinctures. The dispensary leans heavily into curated, small-batch products and is always bringing in new strains and rare cannabinoid blends to keep its inventory fresh. They also allow onsite consumption in certain areas, creating a uniquely social environment that encourages exploration and engagement.
Their branding and in-store experience are polished and consistent, but what makes them especially appealing is their commitment to customer service. Staff take the time to walk customers through dosing, legality, and options, ensuring that even first-time buyers leave informed and satisfied. In a city as fast-paced as Charlotte, Happy Camper offers a much-needed breath of chill.
9. Seed to Soul – Charlotte, NC
Seed to Soul is a premium cannabis boutique that caters to wellness-minded customers in Charlotte. From its elegant interior design to its curated selection of hemp-derived products, everything about this dispensary exudes care and quality. Unlike some shops that overwhelm you with inventory, Seed to Soul takes a selective approach, focusing on high-performing products backed by lab results and strong brand ethics.
They carry a full range of THCa flower, Delta-9 gummies, vapes, and even cannabinoid-specific tinctures tailored to conditions like anxiety or sleep disruption. The dispensary places a high emphasis on clean formulations and educational labeling, making it a favorite for both new users and medical-adjacent customers. Their staff includes wellness consultants who are trained to recommend product regimens—not just make a sale.
What really separates Seed to Soul is the overall shopping experience. The environment is relaxed, upscale, and highly organized. Customers report feeling empowered to explore products without pressure, and many return for the consistency and trust the brand delivers. For those in the Charlotte area seeking a polished alternative to more recreational-focused stores, Seed to Soul is a clear standout.
10. THE Dispensary – Greensboro, NC
THE Dispensary in Greensboro rounds out this list as a solid and reliable option in the Triad region. With a straightforward name and an emphasis on service, THE Dispensary has built a strong local following thanks to its combination of affordable prices, clean layout, and broad product offerings. It might not have the boutique feel of some other entries on this list, but it more than makes up for it with convenience and inventory.
Their menu includes a wide variety of THCa flower strains, Delta-8 and Delta-9 edibles, tinctures, and wellness products. What makes them particularly accessible is their clear pricing model and loyalty discounts for frequent shoppers. The dispensary also regularly runs product demos and brings in reps from partner brands to educate customers and keep them engaged.
In a state where legal cannabis is still emerging, THE Dispensary fills an important gap: a trusted, everyday dispensary where customers can get high-quality, compliant products without the confusion or overhead. Their simple, professional approach makes them a cornerstone in the Greensboro cannabis scene.