The Errl Cup is a quest for the best of the best in Arizona weed, and as spectators, we get to reap the benefits. It happens twice a year in Phoenix (and once up in Camp Verde); for an entry price of free (and $20 for parking), you can spend the day competing to roll a joint the fastest or try your hand at the bong wars. Either way, everyone who walks into the Errl Cup festival will walk away thoroughly stoned and with some free product. If you're lucky, you can score up to an ounce of free weed. Twenty years ago, it would have been unfathomable that stoners from across Arizona would legally convene in Mesa to celebrate the plant. But here we are and it's glorious.

The Gridiron Greats Celebrity Golf Classic during Super Bowl 2023 week was an eventful and unique experience, with former NFL players and sports celebrities enjoying a combination of golf and cannabis. Kyle Turley and Super Bowl Champ Jim McMahon hosted the event at the Anthem Golf & Country Club; their Revenant cannabis brand was prominently featured around the venue. Mint Cannabis added to the experience by offering dab hits at the third hole. It was the first time dabbing for some of the players, and a few of the golfers lost their balls mid-play or couldn't stop laughing. The sold-out event was another example of the evolving attitudes and legal landscape surrounding cannabis use and its trend toward public acceptance.

The Desert Blaze Tacos & Tequila Music Festival was unlike any event metro Phoenix had ever seen. As the sun set on April 15, the Phoenix Events Complex became a vibrant wonderland of music, food, tequila and cannabis. This was the first of its kind in the metro Phoenix area, and excitement was in the air — literally. In the designated cannabis area, a delightful aroma hung in the air as people freely enjoyed complimentary prerolls, bong and rig hits, and edibles. The Arizona Cannabis Awards Music Festival was a highlight of the event, as was a performance by rapper B-Real of Cypress Hill (other artists on the bill included DJ Quik, MC Eiht, Suga Free, Mr. Capone-E, Kurupt and Spice 1). At a distance, carnival rides spun in the background, their lights adding to the vibrant ambiance. Lowriders and motorcycles were scattered around, showcasing the unique and diverse culture the event aimed to celebrate. While the alcohol and cannabis areas were reserved for those over 21, the music festival remained open to all ages, fostering a sense of inclusivity and family-friendly fun under the desert sky.

Amy Van Dyken, who now resides in metro Phoenix, was the first American woman to win four gold medals in a single Olympics at the 1996 games in Atlanta. In 2014, Van Dyken was involved in a UTV accident, injuring her spinal cord and paralyzing her from the waist down. Following the accident, she faced a complicated rehabilitation process, part of which enabled her to consume marijuana. In recent years, Van Dyken has openly spoken of her use of medical marijuana to manage pain brought about by the accident; she consumes the flower, wax and edible variations of cannabis to improve her quality of life. While marijuana use is banned in the Olympics, the former swimmer's advocacy for the miracle plants' medical benefits has led to discussions between her and other Olympic champs and pro athletes about revisiting the regulations surrounding the use of cannabis by of-age athletes.

Prepare to be mesmerized by the innovative yet dope artistry of Chris Drury, the visionary behind Shuhbuh Glass in Phoenix. Drury is no ordinary glass artist; he's a master at creating exquisite glass bongs and rigs designed explicitly for cannabisheads worldwide. His creations aren't just functional pieces, they're smokin' works of art, with a lot of swirl patterns, dichroic treatments and milli accents that push the boundaries of glass craftsmanship. One glance at Drury's techno-color glass pieces, and you'll be transported to a realm of fantasy and imagination — likely induced by THC. His distinctive style incorporates lit dragon motifs, and his signature tusk-like and spike accents add a unique touch, showcasing his attention to detail and commitment to delivering museum-quality canna glass. Drury's designs have recently taken the cannabis industry by storm, earning him a prestigious award at the renowned Champs Trade Show, a prominent gathering for cannabis professionals and enthusiasts in Las Vegas.

DJ KP is a Mesa-based artist who can be found at dispensaries and weed parties around town, spinning hip-hop on the Serato DJ software platform and even old-school turntables occasionally. KP, an acronym for "keep positive," is an old-school disc jockey who smokes weed to keep his creativity flowing when spinning at cannabis-friendly events and hone his hand-eye-ear coordination when blending and scratching the jams. When KP jams out at dispensaries, he brings weed-laced tracks from Cheech & Chong, Dr. Dre and Bob Marley and the Wailers. He's the best-known cannabis DJ in the Valley (and our personal favorite) because he always keeps the party going while pass-pass-puffing over his DJ equipment and sending out positive vibes on the mic.

Sharif "Reef the Comic" Faleh headlines and hosts the Jokes & Joints show at House of Comedy on High Street. At the "high-sterical" show, the 32-year-old Palestinian comedian, whom the cannabis-heads call Reef for short, smokes a joint with his fellow comedians and fans. Then, high as a kite, Reef tells unfiltered jokes on stage, inspired by the rugged streets of New Jersey and his Middle Eastern roots. The niche weed comedian is known for crowd immersions and snappy wit, a skill he honed through countless encounters with randoms on NYC subway cars. Reef took his quick comeback wit to Phoenix, and with or without weed, he's a guaranteed hoot. Another plus when folks come to Reef's Jokes & Joints is that they'll likely get free canna samples; don't turn down the free weed, or Reef will roast you.

In Arizona's young recreational cannabis market, Mint Cannabis is no stranger to blazing trails. In March 2022, the company's flagship retail outlet — with an address in Guadalupe but referred to as its Tempe store — became the first in Arizona to open until midnight. Seven months later, in October, the dispensary shifted to 24-hour operations, the first one in Arizona — and just one of a handful across the U.S. — to offer around-the-clock weed. It's the kind of cannabis convenience that just a few years ago was a pipe dream for weed enthusiasts. Offering late-night weed is just the latest innovation for this Mint store, which was the largest in the state when it opened, offered a first-of-its-kind cannabis kitchen in 2018, cut the ribbon on a drive-thru in 2020 and launched a shuttle service in 2022. If you get a late-night itch for a marijuana hit, Mint makes it so easy to scratch.