THC City Guides is an editorial cannabis directory. We don’t sell, deliver, or take payment for any product. We exist to help adult 21+ cannabis shoppers find licensed retailers and understand local rules — without the noise of fake reviews, paid-placement-disguised-as-editorial, or made-up legal claims. This page documents exactly how we build what’s on the site.

Editorial standards

Every state and city page is built around the same five-layer fact stack:

  1. Legal framework — pulled from the state regulator’s primary site (Department of Cannabis Control in CA, Cannabis Regulatory Agency in MI, etc.). We cite the regulator directly on each state page. We do not paraphrase secondary press coverage of the law.
  2. Tax rates — sourced from the state tax authority (CDTFA in California, equivalent in other states). State excise + local cannabis tax + sales tax are reported as their published ranges.
  3. Pricing tiers — observational. Pulled from publicly-listed dispensary menus across each market, sampled monthly, expressed as ranges (Budget / Mid / Premium) rather than single point estimates. Specific dispensary prices change daily; we report the band.
  4. City context — written by the editorial team based on the market’s published dispensary count, delivery footprint, and any locally-distinctive rules (military bases, federal land, college towns, airport jurisdictions).
  5. Legal-warning alerts — universal traps for traveling consumers (airports = federal property, state borders = federal crime to cross with cannabis, etc.) sourced from federal law (Controlled Substances Act, TSA published policy).

Where the data comes from

  • State regulators — each state page links the state’s primary cannabis regulator and its license-search tool. We recommend verifying any retailer there before purchase.
  • State tax authorities — each state page cites the state department of revenue / taxation for current tax rates.
  • Dispensary directories — for storefront and delivery existence checks, we cross-reference state regulator lists with the dispensary’s own website. We do NOT use unverified third-party listings as the source of truth.
  • Federal sources — for airport / federal-land / interstate transport warnings: TSA published guidance, NPS regulations, FAA published policy, Controlled Substances Act.

Update cadence

Every state and city page carries a “Last reviewed” date. That date reflects the last time an editor reviewed the legal framework + tax rates + pricing bands against current sources. Pages are reviewed on a rolling basis — fastest after a regulatory change (e.g., a new state’s retail launch), slower for established mature markets where the underlying rules have been stable for years.

If you spot something outdated, please tell us using the contact link in the footer. We update within 7 days of a verified correction.

What we don’t do

  • We don’t sell, deliver, or take orders. THC City Guides is an informational directory. Every transaction happens between you and a state-licensed retailer.
  • We don’t fabricate reviews. No paid “5-star” placements, no anonymous-account reviews, no fake testimonials. When a brand pays for visibility on the site, it’s clearly marked as a “Featured Partner” or “Featured Brand” placement — promotional, not editorial.
  • We don’t paraphrase legal claims without sourcing them. Every legal-status statement on the site is traceable to a state regulator citation we publish on the page.
  • We don’t recommend unlicensed shops. Period. If a dispensary isn’t in the state regulator’s license database, it’s not on this site.

Promotional placements & disclosure

Some brands and retailers pay for premium visibility on the site (the “Featured Partner” slot on a state or city page, the “Featured Brand” pills, the placement directory entries). These placements are always visually labeled as promotional. They do not influence the editorial fact stack (legal framework, taxes, pricing bands, alerts) — those are sourced and written independently of any commercial relationship.

If you operate a cannabis business and want to be considered for premium placement, see the “Get Listed” CTA on any state or city page or the contact page.

Compliance posture

  • 21+ only. The site enforces an age-gate on every visit. THC products are restricted to adults 21+ where legal. Where state law differs (Hawaii 18+ med, etc.) we note the specific exception on the state page.
  • Informational only. Nothing on this site is medical, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional for health questions, an attorney for legal questions, and a tax professional for tax questions.
  • State-specific. Cannabis law is state-by-state and changes frequently. We do our best to reflect current rules — but always verify with the linked state regulator before acting.

Corrections & contact

Spotted an error? Have a regulatory update we missed? Operate a licensed dispensary that should be on the site? Email buddy@thccityguides.com or use the form on the contact page. We respond within 2 business days and update verified corrections within 7 days.

About THC City Guides

THC City Guides is published by Ketchup Consulting from Temecula, California. We are independent — not owned by any cannabis brand, retailer, or distribution network. Editorial decisions are made by the THC City Guides editorial team without input from advertisers or commercial partners.

Last reviewed: June 24, 2026