April 20 isn’t just another spring Saturday in Grand Junction — for one local dispensary, it was the biggest day of the year. KAI Dispensary turned up the volume, literally and figuratively, as 420 celebrations drew crowds, deals, and energy not usually seen on a Sunday.
Inside the store, music pumped through the air, customers streamed in non-stop, and the smell of enthusiasm — and weed — lingered from open to close.
420: Not Just a Number, But a Full-Blown Event
Joey Coleman, owner of KAI Dispensary, didn’t mince words.
“This is our Super Bowl,” he said, smiling as customers browsed the shelves and chatted with staff. “We’ve got events throughout the year, sure. But 420? That’s the one everyone knows about.”
This year, Coleman and his team went all out. Store-wide discounts, a live DJ spinning upbeat tracks, and a full team ready to handle the foot traffic made the shop feel more like a community center than a storefront.
Some came for the deals. Others just wanted to be part of it.
A Crowd Ten Times the Size
Most Sundays in Grand Junction are, let’s say, chill.
But April 20 flipped that script entirely. Coleman said it felt like the floodgates had opened.
“I opened the gates and people were already waiting,” he said. “It’s like ten times more than a normal day. Especially a Sunday.”
His comments weren’t just hype. The dispensary saw a level of business that dwarfed any typical weekend rush.
Even the staff felt it. Lines stayed long but moved fast. Laughter and curiosity echoed in the air. First-timers stood next to seasoned regulars, swapping tips and preferences like old friends.
From Ballot Box to Bud Tenders
It’s worth remembering: retail weed is still pretty new to Grand Junction.
Voters only approved recreational marijuana sales within city limits in 2021. Since then, ten dispensaries — including KAI — have been permitted to operate, selected through a city-run lottery system.
So yeah, this is still fresh territory.
Coleman’s shop was one of the lucky ten to get the go-ahead. That makes big days like 420 all the more meaningful.
“We want the community to know who we are,” Coleman said. “This is our way of doing that.”
More Than Just Sales Numbers
Beyond the dollars and cents, 4/20 was about energy. Culture. Presence.
“Yeah, we want to sell,” Coleman admitted. “But we also just want people to see the space. Experience it. Feel comfortable here.”
The event brought in customers who had never been inside a dispensary before. Some just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
Others came with friends or out-of-town visitors, turning it into an afternoon stop.
• First-time customers asked a lot of questions.
• The DJ added a social vibe that kept people hanging around.
• Staff had more conversations than transactions at times.
This wasn’t just about getting high — it was about connection.
Why It Mattered More This Year
KAI and other local dispensaries are navigating a moment of change. With Grand Junction still relatively new to cannabis retail, 2025 is a critical year for establishing long-term customer habits.
That makes high-visibility days like 4/20 even more important. They’re not just a celebration — they’re branding, outreach, and momentum-building all at once.
Here’s a quick look at how the city’s cannabis scene stacks up:
| Metric | Grand Junction (2025) |
|---|---|
| Retail Dispensaries Licensed | 10 |
| Year Recreational Sales Approved | 2021 |
| Population (Est.) | ~67,000 |
| Average Monthly Sales (Est.) | $1.2M–$1.5M |
For context, Grand Junction’s approach has been cautious but deliberate. The lottery-based licensing system was intended to prevent oversaturation. But it also means each dispensary carries more visibility — and pressure.
Looking Ahead: Will the Hype Last?
Coleman seemed optimistic but realistic.
“Of course we love days like this,” he said. “But we also want folks to come back next week. And the week after that.”
The dispensary’s team hopes some of the first-timers from Saturday become familiar faces. They know one holiday can’t carry a whole year. Still, it helps a lot.
Some in town remain skeptical about legal cannabis — but days like 4/20 chip away at that.
“You’d be surprised who shows up,” Coleman chuckled. “It’s not just the stereotypes anymore. It’s everyone — older folks, younger folks, you name it.”
And honestly, that might be the real story here.
