Dallas | Marijuana Travel Guide

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With a rich history reaching back to the late 1800s, the last few years have seen this area reinvented into one of the hippest places in Texas. There’s amazing food, plenty of drink options (it recently stole Uptown’s title for Dallas’ nightlife capital), and dozens of shops and boutiques for a good day out. Braindead Brewery, Revolver Taco, Merit Coffee, and Archer Paper Goods are just a few great local options. Deep Ellum’s true worth, however, is in its identity. Despite new influences of affluence and popularity, the heart of Deep Ellum remains eclectic, angsty, and just a little off-center (which is exactly why we love it).

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Like Deep Ellum, Bishop Arts is an up-and-coming district that has been revitalized over the last decade. While there are so many options to choose from, Bishop Arts is probably the best place for spending an entire day in one area. Some of our favorite places include The Wild Detectives, Dallas Grilled Cheese Co, Eno’s Pizza, and Oddfellows. In addition to the immediate Bishop Arts District (which is a small three to four-block area), it’s close to tons of unique areas in the larger Oak Cliff region. Jefferson Street and Lake Cliff are both within walking distance, where you’ll find several parks and smaller lakes, and there are a few nature preserves just a few miles south.

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Known for a single strip of road probably less than a quarter-mile long, Lowest Greenville has become an iconic part of Dallas. It’s where the Saint Patty’s Day parade is held every year and has some of the most enjoyable rooftop bars in the city (we’re looking at you, HG Supply Co). With lots of bars and restaurants, it’s an ideal spot for enjoying warm Texas evenings. The Truck Yard sports a massive, colorful beer garden (it’s also one of the most Austin-like spots in town) and The Libertine Bar puts every other street-side patio to shame. Also, if you keep following Greenville Avenue to the north, you’ll find other communities with plenty to offer. Local tip: go see a concert at the Granada – you won’t be disappointed.

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Deep Ellum, Lowest Greenville, and Bishop Arts offer the most frequent wine walks, but they can be found everywhere throughout the city. There’s even an awesome wine walk in Downtown Plano that we absolutely love. No matter the neighborhood, tons of shops participate, oftentimes offering up their own drinks in lieu of wine. If you sign up for a Deep Ellum wine walk, you’ll likely get to keep the drinking glass, which is designed by local artists and alone worth the cost. As long as it’s warm outside, you can bet that there’s a wine walk going on somewhere (and by no means are they limited to the weekends).

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Located in an old renovated bungalow just off the main Bishop Arts strip, The Wild Detectives is a coffee shop, book store, bar, and event space created by two local literary fanatics. They have weekly events that range from book clubs and author readings to music and local theatre performances in the beer garden out back. They’re probably one of the best Hispanic literary circles in the state and frequently sponsor local authors and movie producers. Whether you’re in for a night of casual cultural refinement or want to sit back and drink some world-class cocktails, this place is worth visiting time and time again.

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While you should definitely give the top of ReunionTowera try, locals are likely to tell you the Statler pool is a better option. Reunion Tower offers a grander view, sure, but it’s way more expensive and knows it’s a tourist destination. The Statler is an old hotel modeled straight out of the 50s, and you’ll still be up a couple of dozen stories overlooking Dallas streets. Plus, you’ll have better drinks and great food all while chilling in a huge rooftop pool. If you’re feeling especially swanky, you can call ahead and reserve a table at the building’s edge for an even better view. 

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Overall, Texans are overwhelmingly in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. According to a University of Texas poll, 53% of Texans would vote to legalize marijuana in either any or small amounts. An additional 31% said they would vote to legalize medical marijuana (that only leaves 16% outright against it). Another promising statistic involves recent weed-related prosecutions. Since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp products with less than 0.3% THC, marijuana prosecutions in Texas have dropped by more than half despite usage rates and marijuana legislation not changing.

There are also certain cities in Texas working to end low-level marijuana arrests. In January 2020, Austin passed an ordinance to do just that. The resolution does not state an exact amount, but only attempts to define new protocol within the boundaries of the law that limit the prosecution of low-level weed possession. Other cities are following in a similar fashion, with San Marcos, San Antonio, and El Paso all working toward “cite and release” protocols for low-level possession.

Medical Marijuana

There is currently a statewide low-THC level medical marijuana program (the Compassionate-Use Act) in place, but it’s limited to CBD products with less than 0.5% THC. On top of that, the program is restricted to individuals suffering from multiple sclerosis, ALS, terminal cancer, Parkinson’s disease, autism, and several seizure disorders. It’s better than nothing, but it is extremely limiting.

Dallas Laws and Penalties

Fortunately, marijuana possession charges have been going down in recent years. Unfortunately, there are still some serious consequences if you get caught with weed in Texas, especially if you’re not in a city with cite and release ordinances. In Dallas, possession of 2 ounces or less will result in a misdemeanor, up to 180 days in prison, and a maximum fine of $2,000. If you’re caught with 2 to 4 ounces, you could spend up to one year in jail and a total of $4,000 in fines. More than that, and the jail time jumps to years and the fines increase to the tens of thousands. These fines are steep and the law is currently against cannabis culture. However, there are plenty of groups advocating within Texas to move marijuana legalization in the right direction.

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This mall’s official slogan is “The Art of Shopping,” which is spot on. Unlike most malls, NorthPark isn’t just meant for shopping and outings with friends – it doubles as a collection of diverse art and stunning landscapes. In the center of the mall, there’s a beautiful park where you’ll find kids playing, couples walking, and people lounging and reading. There are dozens of restaurants throughout, just about every store you can imagine, and a bustling collection of people that’s hard not to be impressed by. We do suggest getting there earlier in the day, because parking (despite the enormous parking lot) can get a little hectic in the evening.

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Located in Uptown, West Village is an entire community of shops, restaurants, bars, and even residential living. It’s more of a lifestyle concept than a shopping center. It has everything you’d want, complete with world-class food, constant live music and events, and even a swanky movie theater called the Magnolia. From jewelry and high-end clothing to massage lounges and bakeries, West Village has it all. Not to mention, it’s simply a stunning space with large sidewalks, plenty of trees, and casual outdoor dining areas.

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Like so many shopping centers around the Dallas metro area, Shops at Park Lane is an outdoor shopping experience and there’s a little bit of everything available. Tons of shops, ranging from outdoor sporting stores to boutiques and beauty salons, are open alongside restaurants and bars. There’s also a Whole Foods and other essentials stores around the area (including a bowling alley bar called Bowl & Barrel). In addition to being a great place to spend beautiful Texas afternoons, this shopping center is located right of I-75 and gives you immediate access to anywhere else in the city.

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With only two shops (one in Fort Worth and the other in Dallas), Oni offers some of the best ramen you’ll probably ever have. Because they’re located in the heart of Deep Ellum’s bar scene, they’re open incredibly late and are ideal drunk food. The portions are huge, the meat is savory, the tempura is done perfectly, and the broth can be made as spicy as you could possibly want. Literally. Be warned that Oni knows its spice. They advertise it and aren’t kidding. Make sure you start off with milder spice level, because they don’t accept returns if it’s too hot – you’ve been warned. 

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If you’re wanting the cheesiest, most delicious hand-tossed pizza the city has to offer, go to Greenville Avenue Pizza Co (known as GAPCO to locals). Whether it’s by the slice or the whole pie, you can’t go wrong with stopping by this charming pizza parlor. We suggest giving their Margherita or 5 Cheese a try first, but anything on their menu is worth ordering. Located in Lowest Greenville, GAPCO is the perfect way to finish off a night out with friends. They even have a to-go window posted up next to the entrance (you’ll see people waiting outside for pizza no matter the time of day). 

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There are a ton of different places to get tacos in Dallas – Velvet Taco, Tacodeli, Torchy’s, Rusty Taco – we encourage you to try them all. However, we chose to put Tacos Mariachi on this list because it’s a local Dallas joint, an absolute hole in the wall, and always top-notch. The original location is southwest of Downtown, near Trinity Grove, and is always serving up amazing specials and some of the best homemade chips in town. There’s also another location on Lowest Greenville if you’re over that way. These tacos, like so much of Dallas, are inviting, approachable, and will surely have you coming back for more.