On December 5, 2018, the Holland City Council voted to prohibit the sale of recreational marijuana. A few neighboring cities such as Zeeland and Grand Haven have also banned the sale of the substance.

This was just a day before the State of Michigan implemented the official legalization of cannabis.

And ever since, cannabis shops have yet to make their way into our beloved City of Holland.

But, while the sale is not permissible, the trade or “donation” has become the new method of acquiring the substance.

This isn’t legal by any means—it’s a loophole.

What They Call “Sticker Shops”

Because Holland does not allow the sale of recreational cannabis, there are no dispensaries located within its city limits. The inquiry about where one could find cannabis here has been a common thread across online platforms such as Reddit and some local Facebook groups.

An anonymous commenter on Holland Informed (The Better One) claims, “Holland does not allow dispensaries. There are “sticker stores” but no actual dispensaries. Your best bet is to stop at one of the cities on your way in, or make your way over to Grand Rapids.”
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So what are these alleged “sticker shops?”

“You buy a sticker, and they donate you weed. It’s a loophole in the system. Really you’re just buying the weed and grabbing a sticker on the way out,” states another anonymous comment.

Other comments describe where to find these “sticker shops.” “There’s Pipeline, but they haven’t had much of a selection. There’s one right around the corner from them on a second story building. Those are the only two I know of.”

If you read through the threads, you’ll find the names and locations of different places that are classified and participate as “sticker shops.” They’re not meant to be outright advertisements of where you can find weed, but they’re not entirely secretive either.

Seems a bit under the radar, right? Well, that’s because it is.

What Does The City of Holland Say About This?

A few neighboring cities like Saugatuck allow the legal sale of cannabis. There are a few dispenseries located there.

And although Holland prohibits the sale of cannabis, it seems to be an active participant in the substance's distribution.

It’s hardly a secret either—if online threads are buzzing about it, you can bet residents are too.

Yet despite the growing chatter, the City of Holland has remained silent on the issue.