Mesa is a bustling suburb city belonging to the greater Phoenix metro area. It’s tucked away between the Salt River and the Usery Mountain Regional Park – there are miles of outdoor adventure to experience just minutes from the city. From Mesa, you also have easy access to the gorgeous Superstition Mountains, the Apache Trail, and a variety of nearby regional lakes. In-city, there is a prominent microbrewery scene and an endless list of local restaurants. If you’re looking for entertainment, Mesa has you covered with many dinner theaters, several wineries, and major museums like the Arizona Museum of Natural History, the Mesa Historical Museum, and the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum. Or, if you’re looking for something more thrilling, Mesa hosts many year-round attractions like hot air balloon expeditions and dude ranches.
Mesa also has a fairly active marijuana scene. Arizona legalized medical marijuana in 2010, and there have been medical dispensaries in Mesa ever since. These dispensaries usually operate between the hours of 8 AM and 9 PM, and several are allowed to provide delivery services (they must be nonprofit and run by the state). In 2020, Proposition 207 was passed, legalizing recreational marijuana statewide. Mesa has opted to allow licenses to established medical dispensaries, a process that will begin on January 19, 2021. Based on current projections, recreational marijuana will be available for sale in Mesa somewhere around March or April of 2021. Under the new laws, it is also now legal to grow up to six marijuana plants at home per adult, with a maximum of 12 plants per household. Please note that even when recreational marijuana becomes available, it is still illegal to smoke in public or to drive under the influence of any amount of marijuana.