Cannabis Museums Every Cannasseur Needs to Visit

If you are planning your next vacation, consider stopping through one of these areas to see some of the world’s best cannabis and hemp museums. Both national and international, these museums offer some of the best exhibitions, educational tools, entertaining displays and interactive shows as well. Although not the only cannabis and hemp museums around, these are some of the most impressive, from our standpoint.

The Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum, Netherlands

Over 40 years old, the Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum in Amsterdam is the oldest museum about cannabis and hemp. Located in the Red Light District, this museum exhibits all aspects of cannabis and hemp including functions, studies, science and the history of hemp and cannabis. It facilitates scientific research and aims to educate the global public about the versatile plant and perpetuate proper understanding of this plant and its many uses. They host small conferences on hemp and cannabis there, and are constantly updating their collection of interesting hemp and cannabis based exhibits.

Museo de Cannabis de Montevideo, Uruguay

Located in the heart of the Palermo neighborhood, the epicenter of candombe, and a few minutes from the center of Montevideo, the Museo del Cannabis de Montevideo (Cannabis Museum Montevideo) opened in December of 2016 and encourages reflection on the multiple uses that a plant can have and its implications for the challenging times humans confronts in this century of clash of civilizations and climate change. The Museo de Cannabis de Montevideo is supported by the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum (Amsterdam/Barcelona), and shares exhibits, collections and objects from the sister-museums.

Colorado Museum of Cannabis and Hemp History, Colorado

This new Denver-based museum, the Colorado Museum of Cannabis and Hemp History is perfectly placed in the first legal recreational state in the country, and is dedicated to preserving and presenting cannabis and hemp history in a contemporary, educational and entertaining way. Their collection includes all the expected educational and scientific stuff, but also offers archives of publications and written work on hemp and cannabis, relics from the ’60s and ’70s cannabis culture, international hemp history objects and exhibits, antiques from medicinal cannabis in America, a smoking lounge, cannabis and cinema exhibits, special events and premieres, and an on-site grow room, to show every stage of the cannabis plant.

Whakamana Cannabis Museum, New Zealand

This museum in New Zealand is trying to change the way New Zealanders understand cannabis and hemp and the way the government treats it. Focusing on their main cause to be a center for education and law reform activism, the museum offers classes, tours on the island and a place to stay. The guest rooms were initially offered to refugees, artists in residence and activists, but is also open to the public. They host events and they offer a media studio for visitors to create a video, podcast or live broadcast stream in their state of the art studio.

Hemp Embassy, Austria

The Hemp Embassy allows people to tour through an on-site grow house, so they can learn about the cannabis plants in front of the plants themselves. They focus on the science of the plant, and the versatile history, the distorted “war on drugs” and many uses of the plant. It is a free museum space, and offers strain reviews, how-to videos, informational exhibits, and hope to transform the misinformed public to educated and respectful cannasseurs.

Oaksterdam Cannabis Museum, California

Focusing on the use of industrial hemp, medicinal cannabis and cannabis culture, the Oaksterdam Cannabis Museum is also home to the Oaksterdam University, a San Francisco-based school for people who are interested in any aspect of cannabis culture, industry, legal matters or science. Opened in 2011, it has been the only U.S. cannabis museum to have had regular hours open to the public and a living medical cannabis garden on display.

Cannabis Museum

In the Cannabis Museum, which was founded by lawyers and activists, the focus is mostly on education, and trying to change the misinformed stigmas against the plant, but they also offer a great collection of historical containers from apothecaries, vintage displays for cannabis and hemp, and historical advertisements related to hemp and cannabis. They are said to be working on a digital store for interested parties to purchase these historical items as well.

U.S. Hemp Co Museum

Originally based in Santa Cruz, California, the now-digital only non-profit organization and museum focuses on documenting the vast history of the hemp plant all over the world. The U.S. Hemp Museum focuses on educating the public about how hemp is a leading cellulose, fiber, food and bio-fuel solution, and how it has been mistreated and misunderstood throughout history. Its website also serves as a constant and reliable source for cannabis and hemp news from all over the world.

Dublin Hemp Museum, Ireland

Focusing on the hemp history of Ireland, the Dublin Hemp Museum has helped Ireland create and promote hemp based initiatives in the country, and opened almost three years ago and since then has educated thousands of visitors from across the globe. They offer exhibitions, interviews, workshops and other events. They offer classes and information on growing hemp, products that are infused with all natural hemp, products for smoking and vaporizing hemp, a seedbank where you can purchase different strains and varieties, and learn the science behind the hemp plant.

Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Museum & Library, Kentucky

The history of hemp in Kentucky is essentially the history of the state itself. The Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Museum & Library was established in October 1994, as a non-profit organization, to educate the public about the cultural, historic and economic importance of the hemp industry in Kentucky and the United States. The Museum & Library has approached these objectives by displaying, wherever possible, implements, tools and machines that were used in the production, harvesting and industrial processing of hemp; and by developing and disseminating informational materials dealing with the historic and resurgent hemp industry. Supported by the Turner Foundation and the Deni Montana Foundation along with donations, the Kentucky Hemp Museum is located in a central, historically important area of Woodford County, which was once the leading hemp seed producing area in the United States.